Science institute that advised EU and UN 'actually industry lobby group'
Source: Guardian
International Life Sciences Institute used by corporate backers to counter public health policies, says study
Arthur Neslen
Sun 2 Jun 2019 22.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 2 Jun 2019 22.33 EDT
An institute whose experts have occupied key positions on EU and UN regulatory panels is, in reality, an industry lobby group that masquerades as a scientific health charity, according to a peer-reviewed study.
The Washington-based International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) describes its mission as pursuing objectivity, clarity and reproducibility to benefit the public good.
But researchers from the University of Cambridge, Bocconi University in Milan, and the US Right to Know campaign assessed over 17,000 pages of documents under US freedom of information laws to present evidence of influence-peddling.
The papers lead author, Dr Sarah Steele, a Cambridge university senior research associate, said: Our findings add to the evidence that this nonprofit organisation has been used by its corporate backers for years to counter public health policies. ILSI should be regarded as an industry group a private body and regulated as such, not as a body acting for the greater good.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/03/science-institute-that-advised-eu-and-un-actually-industry-lobby-group
defacto7
(13,485 posts)burrowowl
(17,607 posts)even if it took awhile!
backtoblue
(11,323 posts)Snip
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a global organization whose members, according to its website, are companies from the food, agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology and supporting industries. Coca-Cola was among ILSIs original funders and Malaspina was its founding president. A budget document obtained by U.S. Right to Know suggests that Coca-Cola gave ILSI $167,000 in 2012 and 2013.
The International Food Information Council (IFIC), a Washington-based nonprofit supported by food companies and trade associations including Coca-Cola, the American Beverage Association, the Hershey Company and Cargill Inc. According to its website, IFIC works to effectively communicate science-based information about food and helps journalists and bloggers writing about health, nutrition and food safety.
An assortment of academic scientists with a history of conducting research sponsored by Coca-Cola or ILSI.
Malaspina, who remained involved with Coca-Cola and ILSI after leaving the soda company, emerges in the emails as a principal connecting node in the network. For example, after asking for advice on how to discredit the 2015 recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, he praises the Food Councils efforts to influence reporters writing about them.
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/robwaters/2017/07/10/trumps-pick-to-head-cdc-partnered-with-coke-boosting-agencys-longstanding-ties-to-soda-giant/amp/
The above article's title is Trump's Pick To Head CDC Partnered With Coke, Boosting Agency's Longstanding Ties To Soda Giant.
Here's some info on Brenda Fitzgerald...
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Fitzgerald
procon
(15,805 posts)Where there's one sneaky front group, there's two, or a hundred more all doing the type of scam. Between underhanded groups like this, Russian hackers, paid internet trolls, junk science promoted by industry conman, how can anyone ever know who they're dealing with?
To start, d. o we need better laws that require truth in advertising? Should they be required to name their principle backers and list who directs and influences their operations?
Crowman2009
(2,478 posts)Mainly because a bunch of rich assholes don't want their cash cow to be depleted, regardless if the planet is destroyed. They also masquerade this as protecting jobs even though they do jack shit if they kill their own employees via accidents or illnesses.
ancianita
(35,816 posts)Or whatever it is that falsely establishes them as authoritative.
The Kochs are swarming over 300 universities with this crap.
Farmer-Rick
(10,072 posts)Only missing the tobacco corporations pushing smoking for a whiter smile.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)The $ and time wasted to get advantages is a long standing issue exploited by the wealthy, you remove it by banning the practice.
Captain Obvious level 1?