Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as well as negative effects such as intestinal dysbiosis, mood disorders, headaches and migraines.
This article was first published by Huffington Post. By Carey Gillam It’s been a rough year for Big Soda, sellers of those sugary soft drinks that kids (and adults) love to chug. A June 16 decision by city leaders in Philadelphia to impose a “soda tax” as a means to discourage consumption of beverages seen … Beverage Industry Finds Friend Inside U.S. Health Agency
A new peer-reviewed paper, based on documents we uncovered via FOI requests, finds that “Coca-Cola exerts direct influence on academic institutions and organizations that convene major public health conferences and events.“
Update: Newsweek’s bizarre response By Stacy Malkan “The campaign for organic food is a deceitful, expensive scam,” according to a Jan. 19 Newsweek article authored by Dr. Henry I. Miller of the Hoover Institution. If that name sounds familiar – Henry I. Miller – it may be because the New York Times recently revealed a … Monsanto’s fingerprints all over Newsweek’s hit on organic food
The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) describes itself as a “pro-science consumer advocacy organization” and media outlets often quote the group as an independent science source; however, documents described in this fact sheet establish that ACSH is corporate front group that solicits money from tobacco, chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical companies and trade groups in … American Council on Science and Health is a corporate front group
The International Food Information Council (IFIC), a trade group funded by large food and pesticide companies, misleads the public about diet and health, according to documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know. IFIC is widely cited in the media as a source on issues related to food and health. IFIC and its nonprofit foundation spend … IFIC explainer: How Big Food defends ultra-processed foods, pesticides, artificial sweeteners
The Science Media Centre (SMC) is a nonprofit public relations agency partially funded by corporations and industry groups whose products the group often defends. Current and past funders include BASF, Bayer, DuPont, Monsanto, Coca-Cola, Nestle, and food, chemical and nuclear industry trade organizations, as well as media groups, government agencies, foundations and universities. The SMC … Science Media Centre promotes corporate views of science
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a corporate-funded nonprofit organization based in Washington DC, with affiliated chapters around the world. ILSI describes itself as a group that conducts “science for the public good” and “improves human health and well-being and safeguards the environment.” However, investigations by academics, journalists and public interest researchers show that … International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a food industry lobby group
Updates: Documents released in 2019 revealed Monsanto’s cozy connection to a Reuters reporter who wrote a series of articles critical of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC issued a statement on Oct. 24, 2017 rejecting the “false claims” in a Reuters article claiming the cancer agency ‘edited out’ findings in its glyphosate … Reuters report that IARC ‘edited out’ findings is a false narrative
Corporations may want to think twice about hiring industry-friendly professors to publish studies about their products – as Disney recently realized, but too late. As Sheila Kaplan first reported in STAT News, new emails obtained by U.S. Right to Know reveal that Disney paid friendly professors to study children’s food at its parks, then tried … Disney Tried to Suppress Food Study it Funded
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have their hands full these days. An epidemic of obesity has hit Americans hard, raising the risks for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Childhood obesity is a particular prevalent problem. Last year, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan … What Is Going on at the CDC? Health Agency Ethics Need Scrutiny
During the investigation and subsequent collapse of the Coca-Cola front group Global Energy Balance Network, the New York Times and Associated Press discovered that prominent university professors working on obesity issues had been funded by The Coca-Cola Company. This is not just a public health scandal. It is a journalistic one as well. Journalists have … Journalists fail to reveal sources funded by Coca-Cola: A short report
In what appears to be a truly classic case of false advertising, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo call their artificially sweetened colas Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. Why false advertising? It turns out that in recent years, many scientific studies link artificial sweeteners to weight gain, not weight loss. That’s right. Artificial sweeteners are linked to weight … Are Coke and Pepsi Lying to You About Diet Soda?
They promote GMOs and pesticides, defend toxic chemicals and junk food, and attack people who raise concerns about those products as “anti-science.” Yet Jon Entine, Trevor Butterworth and Henry Miller are funded by the same groups that finance climate-science denial. By Stacy Malkan British writer George Monbiot has a warning for those of us trying … Climate Science Denial Network Funds Toxic Chemical Propaganda
By Carey Gillam A veteran leader within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced her immediate departure from the agency on Thursday, two days after it came to light that she had been offering guidance to a leading Coca-Cola advocate who was seeking to influence world health authorities on sugar and beverage policy matters. … CDC Official Exits Agency After Coca-Cola Connections Come to Light
See also: New York Times, by Sheila Kaplan, 7/22/2017: “New C.D.C. Chief Saw Coca-Cola as Ally in Obesity Fight” Forbes, Part 2 by Rob Waters, “The Coca-Cola Network: Soda Giant Mines Connections with Officials and Scientists to Wield Influence” By Rob Waters Part 1 of 2 stories For many years, The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s … Trump’s New CDC Pick Boosts Agency’s Ties To Coca Cola
Dear Rick Berke and Gideon Gil, At a time when the public is questioning the legitimacy of news media – and science itself – it is important for health and science publications such as STAT to serve the public with as much truth and transparency as possible. We write to ask you to step forward … Open Letter to STAT: It’s Time for Stronger Transparency Standards
As the 2016 campaign shapes up, it’s interesting to watch the candidates for clues about their food politics. Thus far, Hillary Clinton has made two missteps. The Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton’s team has hired Wendy Clark, a senior vice president at Coca-Cola. As our nation struggles with an epidemic of obesity, type 2 … Hillary Clinton’s Two Missteps
Related reporting by U.S. Right to Know: Cornell Alliance for Science is a PR Campaign for the Agrichemical Industry Gates Funded Cornell Group Protests Vandana Shiva As the big food companies announce plans to label genetically engineered foods in the U.S., we take a closer look at pro and con arguments about the controversial food … What Bill Gates Isn’t Telling You About GMOs
In June, Dr. Barbara Bowman, a high-ranking official within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unexpectedly departed the agency, two days after information came to light indicating that she had been communicating regularly with – and offering guidance to – a leading Coca-Cola advocate seeking to influence world health authorities on sugar and beverage … More Coca-Cola Ties Seen Inside U.S. Centers For Disease Control
Summary * GMA is the leading trade group for the junk food industry * GMA hides list of its own corporate members *GMA was found guilty of money laundering *Opposed legislation to combat child slavery * Out of touch: 93 percent of Americans support GMO labeling, but GMA opposes it *Opposes mandatory food labeling, supports … Grocery Manufacturers Association — key facts
Summary * TheAmerican Beverage Association is a trade group for the soda, soft drink and junk food industries *ABA was previously called the National Soft Drink Association *Some U.S. soft drinks contained BVO, a flame retardant; ABA says “so is water!” *While ABA defends use of a flame retardant in soda, Coke and Pepsi announced … American Beverage Association — key facts
UPDATE January 2019: Documents filed in court show that Monsanto provided Kate Kelland with the documents for her June 2017 story about Aaron Blair and gave her a slide deck of talking points the company wanted covered. For more details, see Carey Gillam’s Roundup Trial Tracker post. The following analysis was prepared by Carey Gillam … Reuters’ Kate Kelland promoted false narrative about IARC and Aaron Blair
Update June 27: A new “compromise” bill announced by Senator Stabenow is “completely unacceptable” and worse than the original bill, say consumer advocates. Read the latest news here. By Stacy Malkan Nearly 90% of Americans say genetically engineered food should be labeled, with high support across all ages, races and political affiliations, according to a December … Will Senate Democrats Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory on GMO Labeling?
