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Judi Lynn

(160,219 posts)
Sun Jun 2, 2019, 11:26 PM Jun 2019

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 paper’s 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

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Science institute that advised EU and UN 'actually industry lobby group' (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2019 OP
Good catch. Too bad it took so long to figure this out. defacto7 Jun 2019 #1
Good job burrowowl Jun 2019 #2
Here's an interesting article from 2017 mentioning ILSI... backtoblue Jun 2019 #3
How does anyone ever know? procon Jun 2019 #4
In short, ILSI is a polluter protection group. Crowman2009 Jun 2019 #5
All these corporate front groups follow Koch and Russian models. They need their licensing revoked. ancianita Jun 2019 #6
Promoting poisoning, diabetes and obesity throughout the developed world Farmer-Rick Jun 2019 #7
Lobbying should have ceased as a thing decades ago. Brainfodder Jun 2019 #8

backtoblue

(11,323 posts)
3. Here's an interesting article from 2017 mentioning ILSI...
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 01:24 AM
Jun 2019

Snip

The emails offer a look at the global network created by Malaspina, a former senior vice president of external affairs at Coca-Cola. The network includes:

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 ILSI’s 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 Council’s efforts to influence reporters writing about them.


Snip

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...

Snip

In January 2018, Politico reported that Fitzgerald had bought shares in the Japan Tobacco company one month after assuming office as Director of the CDC.[17] The investment raised ethical concerns given the CDC's mission to reduce tobacco use, which is the leading cause of preventable disease in the United States.[17] She sold the stocks a few months later.[17] One day after Politico's story broke, Fitzgerald resigned as Director of the CDC on January 31, 2018.[1]

Snip

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Fitzgerald



procon

(15,805 posts)
4. How does anyone ever know?
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 01:48 AM
Jun 2019

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)
5. In short, ILSI is a polluter protection group.
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 03:55 AM
Jun 2019

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)
6. All these corporate front groups follow Koch and Russian models. They need their licensing revoked.
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 08:34 AM
Jun 2019

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)
7. Promoting poisoning, diabetes and obesity throughout the developed world
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 01:40 PM
Jun 2019

Only missing the tobacco corporations pushing smoking for a whiter smile.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
8. Lobbying should have ceased as a thing decades ago.
Mon Jun 3, 2019, 02:22 PM
Jun 2019

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?




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