Conflicts of interest in food and nutrition

Food environment in Burkina Faso: priority actions recommended to the government using Food-EPI tool

Introduction

The food environment is an important factor in the efforts of countries worldwide to achieve a transition to sustainable food systems. The objective of this study is to formulate and prioritize actions to be addressed to the government of Burkina Faso for the creation of a healthy food environment, which will contribute to reducing malnutrition in all its forms and non-communicable diseases.

Methods

National experts were brought together to identify and prioritize actions to fill the gaps identified through a multi-step assessment process following the methodology of the Healthy Food and Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI).

Results

Up to 20 priority policy actions were recommended to the Burkina Faso government. Actions in the policy component focused mainly on regulation of food promotion and marketing, particularly to children, and others in the infrastructure support component focused largely on political leadership, i.e., strong and visible political support from the government to improve the food environment, population nutrition, diet-related non-communicable diseases and their inequalities.

Conclusion

The priority actions to be recommended to the government will strengthen advocacy for government decisions to create a healthier food environment in the country.

Obesity agenda in Brazil, conflicts of interest and corporate activity

Obesity is a social and health problem of global dimensions that demands coordinated solutions from different sectors as well as intersectoral efforts to overcome it. However, policies to overcome obesity affect the interests of the commercial private sector. In Brazil, the Intersectoral Strategy for Obesity Prevention and Control (EIPCO) is the result of participative public action and integrates a set of policies in the field of food and nutrition security. Based on the premise that EIPCO expresses public interests to be protected, promoted and guaranteed by the federal government, this article aims to analyze corporate political activity (CPA) and conflict of interest (COI) situations involving the private commercial sector in the food and nutrition field in Brazil, using EIPCO as a reference. The methods include document analysis and identification of cases reported by the Brazilian civil society organizations that are part of the National Council on Food and Nutrition Security. The results highlighted the actors, actions, ideas and interests addressed by EIPCO and also indicated that EIPCO does not question the private commercial sector's practices in regard to obesity and some of its recommended actions reflect disputes about the concept of healthy eating. All cases analyzed involved CPA to promote ultra-processed food consumption, including lobbying and funding researchers. Those practices and goals are in the opposite direction from the objectives of EIPCO to overcome obesity which indicates potential COI once these representatives of the private sector are directly influencing the governmental political process and policies.

[Competing ideas on the State's roles in the prevention and control of childhood obesity in Brazil]

The study analyzed competing ideas on the State's roles in the prevention and control of childhood obesity in Brazil, with cognitive analysis of public policies as the frame of reference. The study included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals from government, organized civil society, and the commercial private sector. The State was viewed as the main party responsible for dealing with childhood obesity, but the definitions of its roles varied according to the narratives on the factors that condition obesity and the proposed solutions. Members of the commercial private sector criticized the regulatory State in the name of parents' freedom of choice. Civil society representatives and part of the government defended regulatory measures, which they considered essential. They contended that agreements between government and the food industry to reduce unhealthy ingredients are ineffective. However, some government representatives defended such agreements. These tensions and contradictions were also expressed in the policy documents acknowledging that practices by the commercial private sector favor obesity, even while considering the private sector a partner in this process. The arguments against the regulatory State were based on individual factors conditioning obesity, but the object of regulation is institutional practices by the commercial private sector, not individual behaviors. However, this kind of argument is part of corporate policy activity, since it overlooks the conflicts of interests that have contributed to delaying the reduction in obesity prevalence.

Ultra-processed products industry operating as an interest group

The participation of the ultra-processed products industry in efforts to reduce obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases has been questioned, especially because there is evidence of its interference in policy-making processes. This article builds on the Collective Action Theory and the literature of political science to discuss the role of this sector as a special interest group that uses its significant economic power to influence government decisions in its favor. In Brazil, its participation occurs mainly with industry associations. However, it has not yet been established whether their interests prevail in the decision-making process. It has been suggested that research should be carried out to determine the degree of success of their actions, identifying the conditions associated with the convergence of policy results with their interests and indicating to what extent civil society organizations are able to make public interests override private ones.

What principles should guide interactions between population health researchers and the food industry? Systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature

There is no explicit consensus amongst population health researchers regarding what constitutes acceptable or effective interactions with the food industry. This has led to confusion and disagreements over conflicts of interest, which can undermine the integrity of science. To clarify this issue, we aimed to systematically identify the key principles developed by population health researchers to prevent or minimize conflicts of interest when interacting with the food industry. Databases of peer-reviewed literature were searched. In addition, an advanced Google search, a request to experts seeking related documents, and hand searching of references were undertaken. Thematic analysis of the extracted data was undertaken. We examined 54 eligible documents describing guidelines for population health researchers when interacting with the food industry. Fifty-six principles were identified and synthesized in five themes. There were high levels of agreement in themes relating to research governance, transparency, and publication but less agreement and guidance on how principles should be applied in relation to funding and risk assessment. There is agreement on some of the general principles for preventing and minimizing conflicts of interests for population health researchers when interacting with the food industry. However, for issues such as assessing the appropriateness of an industry partner, greater clarity and consensus are required.

Postura de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutrición (SLAN) sobre el manejo de conflicto de intereses

Existe evidencia sólida de la existencia de relaciones entre la industria de alimentos y bebidas y la academia. Ésta sugiere que la investigación patrocinada por la industria es susceptible de conferir sesgos a su favor en los resultados. En América Latina, se han documentado ejemplos de estas situaciones en México, Brasil, Chile, Perú, Colombia y Ecuador, por citar a algunos países. Ante la necesidad urgente de estudiar y gestionar las relaciones entre la industria de alimentos y bebidas y el campo de investigación en salud y nutrición, en 2017 el Presidente de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutri­ción (SLAN) designó a un Comité de Conflicto de Intereses (CCI). El CCI tuvo la encomienda de hacer una propuesta de postura sobre manejo de conflicto de intereses (CDI) de la SLAN. El presente artículo refleja los trabajos del CCI y la postura que adoptó la SLAN.

Políticas de promoção da saúde e potenciais conflitos de interesses que envolvem o setor privado comercial

Resumo O estudo analisou os potenciais conflitos de interesses (CDI) que envolvem o setor privado comercial no âmbito das políticas de promoção da saúde (PS), especialmente em sua interface com o campo da alimentação e nutrição no Brasil. Consideraram-se as influências do ideário internacional nesse processo e, para tal, foram analisadas as duas edições da Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde (2006 e 2014) e os pactos internacionais que as subsidiaram. O estudo pautou-se em método de análise documental, considerando as seguintes dimensões e categorias de análise: na dimensão do ideário da PS foram identificados os enfoques, os princípios e as estratégias propostos; na dimensão dos CDI foram identificadas a abordagem do tema nos documentos, as relações com o setor privado comercial, e as propostas denominadas “parcerias público-privado”. Concluiu-se que a abordagem de CDI ainda é frágil nessas políticas. O debate é despolitizado quando não são explicitadas as assimetrias de poder entre os setores envolvidos nas relações público-privado, ou quando são desconsideradas as práticas do setor privado comercial que ferem objetivos, princípios e valores das políticas de PS.