Unpacking front-of-pack nutrition labelling research: when the food industry produces ‘science’ as part of its lobbying strategies

Abstract

The lobbying strategies of the food industry, which seek to undermine the development of regulatory measures intended to improve public health, are increasingly well documented and associated with slow progress in addressing diet-related diseases at national, regional and global levels. These strategies include the creation and dissemination of biased research findings in order to skew evidence in the favour of the industry, and to cast doubt about the harms stemming from its products and practices. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPNL) provides fertile ground for industry opposition, which we discuss in this commentary.

Keywords

• food industry
• food industry behavior
• conflict of interest
• commercial determinants of health
• corporate political activity
• labelling