Troubling Ties Between Public Health and Sugar-Peddling Companies
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rez-art/iStock/Thinkstock(LONDON) — If the public health sector had to describe its relationship with major players in the sugar industry on Facebook, it would probably be, “It’s complicated.”
A new investigation in the U.K., published in the BMJ, shows worrisome connections between organizations meant to serve the health interests of the public and major food companies marketing heavily sugared items such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi-co, Mars, and Nestle.
These connections take the form of millions in research funding to public health researchers from food companies, food company representatives on the boards of major public health organizations, and more.
Also concerning in the study were policy statements released by industry groups, in which they state a commitment to “protection and promotion of sucrose consumption” through research and sitting on dietary advisory committees.
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