The new study about sugar has shocked the world, but the whole food industry pays for research. 50 years ago the sugar industry paid scientists for research that put the focus only on dietary fat forgetting about the damage that sugar can do to your heart.
- It was found that sugar can cause damage to the heart.
- The whole food industry pays for research.
- People are getting more skeptical about the new nutrition studies.
- Lots of big companies like Coca-Cola invest money for the results to come out in their favor.
After this discovery, it appears that sugar is not the only one. There are others branches from the food industry that pay off to get better results.
Marion Nestle, a nutrition scholar from the New York University, spent a year digging in old researches about food. She found out that almost all of the studies favored the interest of the sponsor.
For example, studies funded by Welch Foods revealed that drinking grape juice daily improves the brain function. Of course, Welch Food is the brand behind the Welch’s 100% Grape Juice.
Another study was funded by the Quaker Oats and is showed that if you eat oatmeal breakfast, you will feel full for a longer time.
Serious concern was raised last year after several exposes about the extent of industry’s influence on nutrition and food.
The New York Times reveled that Coca-Cola paid high-profile organizations and scientist to promote the fact that, in the battle against weight gain, the people focus more on exercising and less on what they drink and eat. That is very convenient for Coca Cola which says they paid over $132.8 million for this research.
Earlier this summer an investigation was released by the Associated Press. This investigation was looking at a research funded by National Confectioners Association, and it concluded that children that eat candy tend to weigh less compared to those who don’t. Of course, the makers of Hershey’s Kisses and Tootsie Rolls are members of the National Confectioners Association.
The investigative journalist, Michael Moss, who focuses on the food industry, says that the researches are funded by the food firms. This means that the studies leave out the negative outcomes and highlight the positive ones.
So who can we trust when it comes to the food we eat? Moss says that we need to be more skeptical when we read about the new finding in nutrition.
Marion Nestle also adds that we need to have a balanced diet with lots of vegetables and less junk food.
What is your opinion about the food industry paying the scientist?
Image source: Wikipedia
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