Partnerships between health organizations and the food industry risk derailing public health nutrition

Yoni Freedhoff; Paul C. Hébert

doi:10.1503/cmaj.110085

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Re: Health organizations and the food industry
Gavin D Arthur

Posted on: 01 April 2011
Health organizations and the food industry
Meurig Stroud

Posted on: 25 March 2011
Health organizations and the food industry
Leah Gramlich

Posted on: 25 March 2011

Posted on: (1 April 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Re: Health organizations and the food industry
Re: Health organizations and the food industry
Gavin D Arthur, Courtenay, BC
Having just read the letter from Leah Gramlich on behalf of The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) I felt compelled to offer my thoughts as a member of the public with an interest in health and nutrition.
I found the last part of the letter quite unsettling specific to the views of the CNS.
"The agri-food industry has been doing considerable work on how to bridge the gap between food and health(2). The...
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Having just read the letter from Leah Gramlich on behalf of The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) I felt compelled to offer my thoughts as a member of the public with an interest in health and nutrition.
I found the last part of the letter quite unsettling specific to the views of the CNS.
"The agri-food industry has been doing considerable work on how to bridge the gap between food and health(2). The same cannot be said of the health care sector which has not yet adopted a systematic approach to defining the role of nutrition in maintaining health status,....."
I do not think that calling into question how the health care sector has, or has not, defined the role of nutrition in the health of Canadians adds to the debate about relationships between the agri-food industry and health organizations.
If we are still at the stage of having to define the role of nutrition in the health status of Canadians, then we are in trouble. Healthy and nutritious food should be the norm and not be seen as something in the realm of medicine or health care.
When it comes to "everyday" food marketed and sold in Canada. I for one have yet to see any of the results of the "considerable work" that the agri-food industry has been doing. The proof is in the pudding (pun intended). What I do see is ever increasing rates of obesity and diabetes and more and more examples of conflicts of interest with industry partnering and helping to fund health organizations.
I for one would feel much more comfortable if groups advocating and educating for meaningful improvements in our public health remained at arms length from the agri-food industry.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.
Posted on: (25 March 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Health organizations and the food industry
Health organizations and the food industry
Meurig Stroud, Cognac, France
The concerns raised in this article should have been realised by the CMA,AMA,OMA and others when they provided the committee of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay,sponsored by Coca-Cola,with the names of members for inclusion in the relay.
When I sent an email to the CMA protesting this I received the usual corporate speak response. Perhaps the CMA should learn that people who live in glasshouses should not throw st...
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The concerns raised in this article should have been realised by the CMA,AMA,OMA and others when they provided the committee of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay,sponsored by Coca-Cola,with the names of members for inclusion in the relay.
When I sent an email to the CMA protesting this I received the usual corporate speak response. Perhaps the CMA should learn that people who live in glasshouses should not throw stones.
Meurig Stroud MBBS
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.
Posted on: (25 March 2011)
Page navigation anchor for Health organizations and the food industry
Health organizations and the food industry
Leah Gramlich
The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) agrees in part with the CMAJ February 22nd editorial on how partnerships between health organizations and the food industry risk derailing public health nutrition. We are Canada’s leading experts in nutrition science, policy, and practice across the entire food – health spectrum.
The editorial’s cautionary advice to health organizations on sponsorships and possible indirect inf...
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The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) agrees in part with the CMAJ February 22nd editorial on how partnerships between health organizations and the food industry risk derailing public health nutrition. We are Canada’s leading experts in nutrition science, policy, and practice across the entire food – health spectrum.
The editorial’s cautionary advice to health organizations on sponsorships and possible indirect influence on health promotion policies is wise. The medical community is now addressing pharma funding of CME and the need to safeguard content from bias (1). Transparency and guidelines on conflict of interest must be pursued in both cases to minimize undue influence. While we agree with the advice on sponsorship bias, we believe that little is gained by vilifying the entire food industry which has invested, often in partnership with government funding agencies, in nutrition research and strategies to effect changes in the food supply. National nutritional efforts such as removing trans fats or reducing sodium levels to improve the food supply require the effective participation of all concerned – the food industry, academic researchers, health and consumer organizations and government, if Canadians are to achieve the desired public health benefits.
The agri-food industry has been doing considerable work on how to bridge the gap between food and health(2). The same cannot be said of the health care sector which has not yet adopted a systematic approach to defining the role of nutrition in maintaining health status, nutritional interventions to reduce risk and treat chronic diseases, or the role of healthcare providers. If strides are to be made in population health nutrition, the health care community must work with the food industry, not against it.
References
1. Morris L, Taitsman JK. The Agenda for Continuing Medical Education- Limiting Industry’s Influence.N Engl J Med 361;24, Dec 2009, 2478-2482).
2. Canadian Agrifood Policy Institute, Agri-Food Destination Report, Feb.2011;www.capi-icpa.ca
Leah Gramlich MD, FRCPC President Canadian Nutrition Society and Director, Nutrition Support Division of Gastroenterology Department of Medicine University of Alberta
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.