A rchive Date
[ 03-06-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.N ]

WHO 'infiltrated by food industry'

Sarah Boseley, health editor

Thursday January 9, 2003

The food industry has infiltrated the

, just as the tobacco industry did, and succeeded in exerting "undue influence" over policies intended to safeguard public health by limiting the amount of fat, sugar and salt we consume, according to a confidential report obtained by the Guardian. The report, by an independent consultant to the WHO, finds that:

food companies attempted to place scientists favourable to their views on WHO and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) committees they financially supported non-governmental organisations which were invited to formal discussions on key issues with the UN agencies they financed research and policy groups that supported their views they financed individuals who would promote "anti-regulation ideology" to the public, for instance in newspaper articles.

"The easy movement of experts - toxicologists in particular - between private firms, universities, tobacco and food industries and international agencies creates the conditions for conflict of interest," says the report by Norbert Hirschhorn, a Connecticut-based public health academic who searched archives set up during litigation in the US for references to food companies owned or linked to the tobacco industry.

He finds that there is reasonable suspicion that undue influence was exerted "on specific WHO/FAO food policies dealing with dietary guidelines, pesticide use, additives, trans-fatty acids and sugar.

"The food industry is considerably engaged in genetically modified foods and the tobacco industry has studied the matter closely with respect to its product; there is evidence the tobacco industry planned also to influence the debate over biotechnology."

The WHO and FAO need the scientific input of the food industry, says the report, but that input must be transparent and subject to open debate.

"One industry-led organisation, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), has positioned its experts and expertise across the whole spectrum of food and tobacco policies: at conferences, on FAO/WHO food policy committees and within WHO, and with monographs, journals and technical briefs."

Some of the strongest criticism in the report is levelled against the ILSI, founded in Washington in 1978 by the Heinz Foundation, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, General Foods, Kraft (owned by Philip Morris) and Procter & Gamble. Until 1991 it was led by Alex Malaspina, vice-president of Coca-Cola.

Dr Malaspina established ILSI as a non-governmental organisation "in official relations" with the WHO and secured it "specialised consultative status" with the FAO.

Eileen Kennedy, global executive director of ILSI, said that the funding of its regional groups came exclusively from industry, while the central body received money from the branches, from government and from an endowment set up by Dr Malaspina. Nonetheless, she said, ILSI regarded itself as an independent body.

INTERNATIONAL LIFE SCIENCES INSTITUTE
Assembly of Members

3M Microbiology (ILSI N. America)
3M Pharmaceuticals (ILSI HESI)
Abbott Laboratories (ILSI HESI)
Ajinomoto (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (ILSI India)
Ajinomoto Foundation (ILSI Thailand)
Ajinomoto General Foods, Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Ajinomoto Interamericana Indústria e Comércio Ltda (ILSI Brasil)
Ajinomoto Switzerland AG (ILSI Europe)
Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Akzo Nobel Chemicals Pte Ltd (ILSI India)
Akzo Nobel Chemicals Pte Ltd (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Alfonzo, Rivas & Cía (ILSI N. Andean)
Al Masreya Company for Macaroni and Starches (Regina) (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Alimentos Kellogg S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Alimentos Kraft de Columbia (ILSI N. Andean)
Allied Domecq Plc (ILSI Europe)
Alusud Embalajes Chile Ltda (ILSI S. Andean)
American Quality Lab, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Amgen Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Amway Colombia (ILSI N. Andean)
Anjinomoto Co., Inc. (ILSI India)
Arab Medical Packing Company (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Arancia Corn Products, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ILSI N. America)
ARSOA Ohsho Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Asahi Breweries Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Asahi Denka Kogyo K.K. (ILSI Japan)
Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
AstraZeneca AB (ILSI HESI)
Atlantic Industries (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Aventis CropScience (ILSI HESI)
Aventis Cropscience Brasil Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Aventis Pharmaceuticals (ILSI HESI)
Barilla Alimentare S.p.A. (ILSI Europe)
BASF Aktiengesellschaft (ILSI Europe)
BASF Corporation (ILSI HESI)
BASF Corporation (ILSI N. America)
BASF S.A. (ILSI Brasil)
BASF SA (Pty) Ltd. (ILSI S. Africa)
Bayer AG (ILSI HESI)
Bayer S.A. Protec?o das Plantas (ILSI Brasil)
Berlex Laboratories, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Bisco Misr Company (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (ILSI HESI)
Bompreço Supermercado Do Nordeste (ILSI Brasil)
Borax Europe Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
BP Chemicals Inc. (ILSI Europe)
Brasseries Kronenbourg (ILSI Europe)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (ILSI HESI)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (ILSI N. America)
British Sugar plc. (ILSI Europe)
Burger King Corporation (ILSI N. America)
Calpis Co., Ltd., The (ILSI Japan)
Campbell Soup Company (ILSI N. America)
Cargill (ILSI N. Andean)
Cargill, Incorporated (ILSI N. America)
Cereal Partners Worldwide S.A. - Switzerland (ILSI Europe)
Cerebos Pacific Limited (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Cerebos Thailand Limited (ILSI Thailand)
Cerestar USA, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Coca-Cola Company, The (ILSI N. America)
Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited (ILSI Thailand)
Coca-Cola de Argentina S.A. (ILSI Argentina)
Coca-Cola de Venezuela (ILSI N. Andean)
Coca-Cola Export Corporation, The (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Coca-Cola Korea Co., Ltd. (ILSI Korea)
Coca-Cola Servicios de Colombia, S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Coca-Cola Southern Africa (ILSI S. Africa)
Coca-Cola West Europe (ILSI Europe)
Cognis Deutschland GmbH (ILSI Europe)
Colloides Naturels de México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Collöides Naturels International (ILSI Europe)
Compa?ía Agrícola Colombiana (ILSI N. Andean)
Compa?ía de Galletas Noel S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Corn Products International, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Córpora Tresmontes S.A. (ILSI S. Andean)
Corporate Strategy and Planning (ILSI Japan)
Crowpla Reicolite S.A. (ILSI S. Andean)
Daiwa Can Company (ILSI Japan)
Danisco Cultor America, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Danisco Cultor Japan Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Danisco Cultor Korea Branch (ILSI Korea)
Danisco Ingredients México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Danisco Sweeteners (ILSI Europe)
Danone S.A. (ILSI Argentina)
Diageo Plc. (ILSI Europe)
DMV International (ILSI Europe)
Doosan Corporation (ILSI Korea)
Dow AgroSciences, LLC/Dow Chemical Company, The (ILSI HESI)
Dow Europe S.A. (ILSI Europe)
DSM Gist N.V. (ILSI Europe)
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (ILSI HESI)
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (ILSI N. America)
Du Pont (UK) Limited (ILSI Europe)
Du Pont Kabushki Kaisha (ILSI Japan)
DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company (ILSI HESI)
DuPont Singapore Pte Ltd (ILSI Southeast Asia)
East Asiatic Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd., The (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Eastman Kodak Company (ILSI HESI)
Effem Brasil Inc. & Cia (ILSI Brasil)
Effemix Ltd (Mars) (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Eisai Co., Ltd. (ILSI HESI)
Eisai Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Eli Lilly and Company (ILSI HESI)
Embotelladoras Chillenas Unidas S.A. (ILSI S. Andean)
Enjoy Company (ILSI N. Africa)
Ensuiko Sugar Refining Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Eridania Béghin-Say (ILSI Europe)
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (ILSI S. Andean)
Ferrero Group (ILSI Europe)
Firmenich S.A. (ILSI Europe)
FMC Corporation (ILSI HESI)
Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods (ILSI Europe)
Ganesh Benzoplast Ltd. (ILSI India)
General Mills (ILSI N. America)
Georgia-Pacific Corporation (ILSI HESI)
Gerber Products Company/Novartis Consumer Health (ILSI N. America)
Gillette Company, The (ILSI HESI)
Glaxo SmithKline (ILSI HESI)
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (ILSI Europe)
Godrej Pillsbury Ltd. R&D Centre (ILSI India)
Groupe Danone (ILSI Europe)
Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Heineken N.V. (ILSI Europe)
H.J. Heinz Company (ILSI N. America)
Heinz Singapore Pte Ltd (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Herbalife International do Brasil Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Hershey Foods Corporation (ILSI N. America)
Hidraulica Mileto S.A.I.C. (ILSI Argentina)
Hindustan Lever Limited (ILSI India)
Hoffmann-La Roche Egypt (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Hokkaido Sugar Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Holding Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, The (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Holland Sweetener Company (ILSI Europe)
IFF (Korea) Inc. (ILSI Korea)
Industrial Danec (ILSI N. Andean)
Institute de Recherches Int. Servier (ILSI HESI)
Interbrew (ILSI Europe)
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Itoen, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
J.T. Food Business Division (ILSI Japan)
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals (ILSI HESI)
Kaneka Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Kanmoor Foods Limited c/o Marico Industries Limited (ILSI India)
KAO Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Keebler Company (ILSI N. America)
Kejriwal Enterprises (ILSI India)
Kellogg (Japan) K.K. (ILSI Japan)
Kellogg (Thailand) Ltd. (ILSI Thailand)
Kellogg Company (ILSI N. America)
Kellogg Asia Sdn. Bhd. (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Kellogg Company of Great Britian Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Kellogg Company of SA (ILSI S. Africa)
Kellogg de Colombia (ILSI N. Andean)
Kellogg de México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Kellögg’s Argentina, S.A. (ILSI Argentina)
Key Coffee Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Kikkoman Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Knorr Foods Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Kraft Foods (ILSI Europe)
Kraft Foods de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Kraft Foods, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Kraft-Suchard Argentina (ILSI Argentina)
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Lipton (ILSI N. America)
L’Oreal Research-Cosmair (ILSI HESI)
Lotte Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
M&M/Mars, Inc. (ILSI Mexico)
Mars, Inc. (ILSI Australasia)
Mars, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Mazapanes Toledo, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
McCormick & Company, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
McNeil Nutritionals (ILSI N. America)
Mead Johnson Nutritionals (ILSI N. America)
Meals de Colombia (ILSI N. Andean)
Meiji Milk Products Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Merck & Co., Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Merisant Colombia S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
MIFAD Company (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Milenia Agro Ci?ncias S.A. (ILSI Brasil)
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Mitsubishi-Kagaku Foods Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmacetuicals, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Miyoshi Oil & Fat Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Moderna (ILSI N. Andean)
Moët et Chandon (ILSI Europe)
Monsanto (ILSI Europe)

Monsanto (Thailand) Ltd. (ILSI Thailand)
Monsanto Argentina S.A.I.C. (ILSI Argentina)
Monsanto Chile C.E.L. Ltda. (ILSI S. Andean)
Monsanto Comercial, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Monsanto Company (ILSI HESI)
Monsanto Company (ILSI N. America)
Monsanto do Brasil Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Monsanto Japan Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (ILSI S. Africa)
Morinaga & Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Nabisco (ILSI N. Andean)
Nampak Group (ILSI S. Africa)
National Dairy Development Board (ILSI India)
National Starch and Chemical Company (ILSI N. America)
Nestlé Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Nestlé del Ecuador (ILSI N. Andean)
Nestlé Egypt (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Nestlé India Limited (ILSI India)
Nestlé Japan Manufacturing Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Nestlé México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Nestlé R&D Center (Pte) Ltd. (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Nestlé South Africa (ILSI S. Africa)
Nestlé USA, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Nestlé Venezuela (ILSI N. Andean)
New Ingredients Research Institute (ILSI Japan)
New Zealand Milk (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Nichirei Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Nicholas Piramal CID Ltd. (ILSI India)
Nihon Shokuhin Kako Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Nikken Foods Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Nippon Lever k.k. (ILSI Japan)
Nippon Meat Packers, Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Nisshin Oil Mills, Ltd., The (ILSI Japan)
Nisshin Sugar Mfg. Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Novartis Consumer Health (ILSI Europe)
Novartis Consumer Health (ILSI N. Africa)
Novartis Nutrition A’asia, Ltd. (ILSI Australasia)
Novartis Nutrition Corporation (ILSI N. America)
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (ILSI HESI)
Novo Nordisk A/S (ILSI HESI)
Novozymes A/S (ILSI Europe)
Novozymes North America, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
NSC México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Numico Research (ILSI Europe)
NutraSweet AG (ILSI Europe)
NutraSweet Company, The (ILSI Argentina)
NutraSweet Company, The (ILSI N. Amercia)
NutraSweet Company, The (ILSI Southeast Asia)
NutraSweet Company, USA, The (ILSI India)
NutraSweet Do Brasil, Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Nutrexpa (ILSI Europe)
Nutrimental S/A Indústria e Comércio de Alimentos (ILSI Brasil)
Nutrinova Nutrition Specialities & Food Ingredients GmbH (ILSI Europe)
Nutrinova, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Ogawa & Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Omega Tech Inc. (ILSI Europe)
Omni Life de Colombia Ltda. (ILSI N. Andean)
Opta Food Ingredients, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Orangina Pampryl (ILSI Europe)
Orynova K.K. (ILSI Japan)
Osotspa Co., Ltd. (ILSI Thailand)
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Parmalat (ILSI Europe)
Parmalat (ILSI N. Andean)
PepsiCo (ILSI Europe)
Pepsi-Cola Company, The (ILSI N. America)
Pepsico/Sabritas, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading Co., Ltd. (ILSI Thailand)
Pepsi-Cola de Argentina S.A.C.I. (ILSI Argentina)
Pepsi-Cola International (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Pepsi-Cola International Ltd. (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Pfizer, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Pfizer, Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Pharmacia (Monsanto) (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Pharmacia Corporation (ILSI HESI)
Pillsbury Company, The (ILSI N. America)
Pioneer Food Group Ltd. (ILSI S. Africa)
Procter & Gamble Company, The (ILSI HESI)
Procter & Gamble Company, The (ILSI N. America)
Procter & Gamble Company, The (ILSI N. Andean)
Procter & Gamble Company, The (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Procter & Gamble de México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Procter & Gamble Egypt (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Procter & Gamble Far East Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Procter & Gamble GmbH (ILSI Europe)
Procter & Gamble Interaméricas Inc. (ILSI Argentina)
Productos Quaker S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Produtos Roche Químicos e Farmac?uticos S.A. (ILSI Brasil)
PRONACA (ILSI N. Andean)
Pt Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (ILSI Southeast Asia)
PT Sinar Sosro (ILSI Southeast Asia)
PT Unilever Indonesia (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Purdue Pharma L.P. (ILSI HESI)
Quality Assurance Europe (ILSI Europe)
Raffinerie Tirlemontoise S.A. (ILSI Europe)
Red Bull Do Brasil, Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Red Bull GmbH (ILSI Europe)
Refinería Hileret S.A.I.C. (ILSI Argentina)
Refreshment Product Services Ecuador (Cocal-Cola) (ILSI N. Andean)
Rengo Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
RHM Technology Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Riken Vitamin Company, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
RIRI Baby Foods Company (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Roche Products (ILSI S. Africa)
Roche Scientific Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd. (ILSI India)
Roche Vitamin Korea Ltd. (ILSI Korea)
Roche Vitamins Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Roche Vitamins Europe Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Roche Vitamins Inc. (ILSI N. America)
Roha Dyechem Ltd. (ILSI India)
Rohm and Haas Company (ILSI HESI)
Rohm and Haas Química Ltda (ILSI Brasil)
Roquette Fréres (ILSI Europe)
Ross Products Division/Abbott Laboratories (ILSI N. America)
R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (ILSI HESI)
Sadia S.A. (ILSI Brasil)
San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc. (ILSI Japan)
Sankyo Co., Ltd. (ILSI HESI)
Sankyo Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Sanmatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Sayaji Sethness Ltd. (ILSI India)
Schering-Plough Research Institute (ILSI HESI)
Schullo S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Schwepps (Spirit Company) (ILSI N. Africa)
SECORBI, S.C. (Grupo Industrial BIMBO) (ILSI Mexico)
SEDICO Pharmaceutical Company (ILSI N. Africa & Gulf)
Servicios Integrados de Administración y Alta Gerencia, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Sethness Products Company (ILSI N. America)
Seven Seas Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Shin Mitsui Sugar Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Shiratori Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
SIS’88 Pte Ltd (ILSI Southeast Asia)
Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Sociedad Agrícola e Industrial San Carla (ILSI N. Andean)
Solvay Pharmaceuticals GmbH (ILSI HESI)
Soprole S.A. (ILSI S. Andean)
SQTS-Swiss Quality Testing Services (MIGROS) (ILSI Europe)
SRA Manager, Coca-Cola India (ILSI India)
A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company (ILSI N. America)
Südzucker (ILSI Europe)
Sunny Health Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Suntory Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
SUPAN (ILSI N. Andean)
Supermaxi (ILSI N. Andean)
Syngenta Ltd. (ILSI HESI)
Syntex, S.A. de C.V./Grupo Roche Mundial (ILSI Mexico)
T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Taco Bell Corporation (ILSI N. America)
Tae Kyung Ltd. (ILSI Korea)
Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Takasago International Corporation (ILSI Japan)
Takasago International Corporation (USA) (ILSI N. America)
Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd. (ILSI HESI)
Tate & Lyle Speciality Sweeteners (ILSI Europe)
Teijin Limited (ILSI Japan)
Tetra Pak S.A. (ILSI Argentina)
Thailand & Indochina, Rovithia Ltd. (ILSI Thailand)
Tokyo Food Techno Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Towa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Tsukishima Foods Industry Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
U.S. Borax, Inc. (ILSI HESI)
Unifoods (Pty) Ltd. (ILSI S. Africa)
Unilever (ILSI Europe)
Unilever (ILSI HESI)
Unilever Andina S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Unilever Bestfoods Brasil, Ltda. (ILSI Brasil)
Unilever de México, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Unilever Ecuador (ILSI N. Andean)
Unilever Bestfoods (ILSI N. America)
Valent USA Corporation (ILSI HESI)
Valio Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
VK Mühlen AG (ILSI Europe)
Warner Jenkinson/Spectrum (ILSI Mexico)
Wild Flavor/Ingredients (ILSI Europe)
Wimm-Bill-Dann (ILSI Europe)
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (ILSI N. America)
Wyeth-Ayerst Research (ILSI HESI)
Wyeth Nutritionals International (ILSI N. America)
Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Yakult S.A. Indústria e Comércio (ILSI Brasil)
Yakult UK Ltd. (ILSI Europe)
Yakult, S.A. de C.V. (ILSI Mexico)
Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Yamazaki Baking Company, Ltd. (ILSI Japan)
Yanbal Ecuador S.A. (ILSI N. Andean)
Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd. (ILSI Southeast Asia)

According to a confidential report, the WHO may have yielded in many important policy areas to pressure coming from the food and tobacco industries.

Brief news

According to a report written by an independent consultant to the WHO and seen by the Guardian, the food and tobacco industries have managed to exert unjustifiable influence over the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Based on this source, food companies have attempted to place scientists favourable to their views on WHO and FAO committees; financed NGOs that were invited to formal discussions on key issues to these agencies; and financed research and policy groups that supported their views.

In addition, two NGOs, the Public Citizen and the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment, released a publication in October 2002, entitled "Bad Taste - The Disturbing Truth About the World Health Organisation's Endorsement of Food Irradiation". In the paper, the two NGOs argue that the WHO has betrayed its original 1961 research agenda to pursue a wide range of experiments into the safety and wholesomeness of irradiated foods, and given in to pressure coming from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), another UN body, which is, in the view of the authors, "leading a campaign to further the legalisation, commercialisation and consumer acceptance of irradiated foods worldwide". In 1999, the WHO declared irradiated food safe for human consumption.

According to a Financial Times article, on 9 December, the WHO rejected the suggestions published in The Guardian and said that it was engaged in an open debate with all stakeholders and had strengthened its procedures against covert lobbying efforts. WHO officials explained that the report in question dates from June 2001 and points to attempts by the food industry to influence WHO decisions in the 1990s and earlier. Since that time the agency had introduced tougher ethical guidelines.

Moreover, in December 2002, the WHO's Regional Office for the Americas released a report, concluding that the tobacco industry's tactics were "derailing public health efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean". The report found that tobacco companies hired scientists to misrepresent the scientific findings linking secondhand smoke to serious diseases; promoted youth smoking prevention campaigns with no mention of the health risks caused by tobacco; sought to increase their share of the illegal tobacco market; and used their access to key government officials for weakening or killing tobacco control legislation in many countries.

Links:

Time-saving overviews:

LinksDossier: Food Irradiation
LinksDossier: Tobacco Advertising

Official documents:
World Health Organisation (WHO): Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FR]
World Health Organisation / Regional Office for Europe: Food Safety
EU Actors' positions:
World Health Organisation: New PAHO Report Describes Tobacco Industry Tactics to Derail Public Health Efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean (17 December 2002)
Public Citizen and GRACE: Bad Taste - the Disturbing Truth about the World Health Organisation’s Endorsement of Food Irradiation (October 2002)
Philip Morris International and Philip Morris USA: Position on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Press articles:

The Guardian

The Financial Times

World Fact Book

(CIA

)

]

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