Ex-minister Milburn lands lucrative job helping Pepsi beat backlash against unhealthy drinks

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The company is best known for recruiting stars such as David Beckham, Britney Spears and Beyonce to promote its products.

But it is turning to Mr Milburn to help fight the backlash against unhealthy snacks and drinks. He will sit on an advisory board looking at how the company can build a healthier product range.

Mr Milburn will be joined While Britney Spears has been paid an estimated £65million by PepsiCo, Mr Milburn's reward will be a more modest £25,000 a year.

A spokesman for PepsiCo in the UK said: "What we are doing is following the precedent of our US company. The new committee has been set up to look at health and wellness and environmental sustainability.

"We believe the UK business will benefit from outside expertise, and Alan Milburn's track record will be of enormous value to our strategic direction."

PepsiCo's brands in the UK include Walkers Crisps, PJ Smoothies, Quaker Oats and Tropicana juices.

The company has already taken steps to make its range healthier and has reduced the saturated fat content of Walkers Crisps by 70 per cent and the salt content by 25 per cent.

But the industry wants to go further as consumers look for healthier products.

At the same time, British manufacturers are facing restrictions on television advertising of foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

The Department of Health is also weighing up plans to make companies carry clearer nutritional labelling.

Mr Milburn is not known as a friend of the junk food industry. Shortly before stepping down as Health Secretary in 2003, he called for a ban on snack vending machines in schools.