FORMER Health Secretary Alan Milburn has landed a £25,000 job advising the manufacturers of Pepsi and Walkers Crisps - despite criticising junk food in the past.

The Darlington MP has been appointed to PepsiCo's new advisory board, which will meet four times a year to discuss health issues.

In a speech on healthy living four years ago, Mr Milburn told an audience at Oxford University: "Worldwide, mass-marketing of foods and drink high in calories, fat and sugar is replacing traditional diets rich in fruit and vegetables.

"I hope Ministers will take swift action to remove fast food, soft drink and confectionery machines from all schools."

In 2002, he told the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in London: "Healthy eating could reduce by one-fifth deaths from cancer, stroke and heart disease."

A 500ml bottle of Pepsi contains 55g of sugar.

Pepsi stressed that the advisory board would look at ways to improve the health and nutritional content of its products.

Mr Milburn said yesterday: "PepsiCo asked me to join its independent board of advisors, to provide advice on how it can transform its portfolio, improve the nutritional profile of its products, and become more environmentally and socially sustainable.

"Big food and drinks companies have a key role in areas such as environment, health, and wellness."

Maura Gillespie, from the British Heart Foundation, said she hoped Mr Milburn would reaffirm his principles in his new role. She said: "We trust he will stick to the principles that guided him as a health minister, and keep top of mind his own comments about the dangers of mass marketing of high fat and sugar foods when offering his advice.

"This way, we hope he will be able to influence PepsiCo's activities for the better."

Joining Mr Milburn on the board is Phillip Gould, political advisor to Tony Blair.