Or did the dog eat my homework? Frankly, I’ve become so overwhelmed by the topics surrounding food, that I am not sure anymore. I’m not someone who would fall into the category of “health nut,” but I consciously push vegetables and fruits at my family every day and was beginning to buy into the idea that access to high-calorie, nutritionally devoid foods was an ingredient in the complex casserole that has become an “obesity epidemic.” Then I saw yet another study tipping that thesis upside-down.

The same day, I read a criticism of Coca-Cola for their efforts to build playgrounds in urban areas where there simply is no other safe place to play.

Do you see the corporate reputation management conundrum here? On the one hand, companies are receiving significant criticism for trying to sell product in certain places. At the same time, companies are reprimanded for using their influence to provide a healthy environment in others. Do they ultimately want and need to sell product to pay employees and fuel the economy? Of course. Does it mean they are acting out of moral deficiency and greed? I’m not so sure.

I can’t help but think that at some point, we’ll all decide that the dog chose to eat the homework because it tasted good and there is no way to stop him from making that choice. And, perhaps the vending machines are not the root of childhood obesity after all, but the lack of a place to run and play is.

However it all plays out, corporations certainly have complex challenges ahead as they attempt to provide products and services, employ people and add value to communities at a level never asked of them in the past, yet with more restraints.