Summary of How Our Health Suffers Because Of Corruption In The Food System:
any kind of research in any kind of publication, any kind of academic presentation. So it’s a little bit better. But the problem is, is that the food industry is so pervasive and so powerful, and it’s so embedded in our culture. And it’s so embedded in our policies. I mean, we have a food pyramid that was created by the food industry. We have a dietary guidelines that are written by the food industry. We have a food stamp program that is essentially a subsidy to the food industry. So it’s really hard to kind of unwind this system. And we need to create a new system that’s really unbiased and really looks at the science and really looks at what’s best for the public health and not what’s best for the industry.
In this episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Mark Hyman discusses how the food industry has infiltrated policies, social groups, and professional organizations to influence them to oppose soda taxes. He shares examples of how Coca-Cola has funded the King Center, Spelman College, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to influence them to oppose soda taxes. He also explains how the food industry targets African-American and Latino populations with discounts and advertisements, and how organizations rely on the food industry for funding. He argues that we need to create a new system that is unbiased and looks at what is best for the public health, not what is best for the industry.
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There’s been more disclosure, but there’s still a lot of money flowing into the system. And one of the things that I think is really important is that these organizations, they have to be aware of the potential conflicts of interest when they take money from the food industry. And they have to be aware that they’re not just taking money, they’re taking money that’s coming with strings attached. And they have to be aware that they’re not just taking money to fund research, they’re taking money to influence policy and to influence the way people think and act. And so I think it’s really important to be aware of that and to try to create a system that’s not so heavily influenced by these industries. Dhru Purohit:Mark, thank you for sharing your story and your insight. I think it’s really important for people to understand how these industries are influencing our health and our policy, and how we can create a healthier food system. Dr. Mark Hyman:I think it’s really important for people to know that the food industry is embedded in the system and that it’s influencing the way people think and act, and that it’s really important to be aware of that and to try to create a system that’s not so heavily influenced by these industries. Dhru Purohit:Mark, thank you for joining us and sharing your insights.
The Doctor’s Farmacy: Uncovering the Influence of the Food Industry
Introduction
Dr. Mark Hyman recently joined The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast to discuss the influence of the food industry on our health and policy. He shared his own story of how the food industry has infiltrated our social groups, professional organizations, and policy organizations. He discussed the tactics used by the food industry to target African-American and Latino populations, the funding of organizations by the food industry, and the potential conflicts of interest that arise when organizations accept money from the food industry.
The Influence of the Food Industry on Social and Professional Organizations
Dr. Hyman shared his experience with Bernice King, Martin Luther King’s daughter, when she was hesitant to show the movie Fed Up in the King Center in Atlanta due to the funding the King Center receives from Coca-Cola. He also discussed his visit to Spelman College, a historically black college in Atlanta, where he found Coca-Cola vending machines and learned that a high-level Coca-Cola executive is a member of the college’s board of directors.
The Food Industry’s Targeting of African-American and Latino Populations
Dr. Hyman discussed how the food industry targets African-American and Latino populations with electronic benefits, discounts, and marketing campaigns. He noted that the food industry is aware that these populations are already using products like soda and sugar and that they can influence them to use more.
Conflicts of Interest in Academic Centers
Dr. Hyman discussed the conflicts of interest that exist in academic centers due to the influx of money from pharmaceutical and food companies. He noted that the pharmaceutical industry is influencing prescribing practices and the research that is conducted, while the food industry is influencing policy and the way people think and act.
Conclusion
Dr. Hyman concluded by emphasizing the importance of being aware of the potential conflicts of interest when organizations accept money from the food industry and the need to create a system that is not so heavily influenced by these industries. He also highlighted the need to create a healthier food system.
