Online Program

290755
Advocacy for reducing the role of the global food and beverage industry on health education


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 10:50 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

Michele Simon, JD, MPH, Eat Drink Politics, Oakland, CA
As the nation's diet-related chronic disease epidemic continues to strain the nation's healthcare system, the food and beverage industry is finding more ways to influence the very organizations charged with educating Americans about how to eat right. This presentation will describe the results of an in-depth study of the numerous food and beverage corporate sponsors of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which represents 74,000 registered dietitians. Where else can Americans turn for nutrition advice when the very professionals who are supposed to help them are earning continuing education units from companies such as Coca-Cola and Hershey's? What are the ramifications of having the nation's leading organization of nutrition professionals in partnership with such companies? Implications for policy-making, credibility of health organizations, and recommendations for reducing industry influence will be discussed.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education

Learning Objectives:
Describe at least 3 specific strategies the food and beverage industry uses to provide information and education on food and beverages to the public and to consumers. Identify 2 key findings on the impact of the food and beverage industry education and marketing diet-related behavior and attitudes. Identify at least 3 specific ways that the food and beverage industry seeks to influence health education professionals and professional organizations.

Keyword(s): Food and Nutrition, Politics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Simon is a leading authority on the role of the food industry in nutrition and nutrition education. My book Appetite for Profit is the definitive book on this subject. My recent report on food industry influence on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics attracted wide media attention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.