Obsession With Industry Funding of Food and Health Science
Financial Backing
What impact has the declining federal funding for research in food science and technology had?
The declining federal funding for research in food science and technology has been a concern since 2015 according to an editorial in the Journal of Food Science, and this trend has remained stagnant for over a decade. Citation: Journal of Food Science, 2015. Research shows that investments in food science have been lower than other related industries.
How can food companies bias scientific research?
Our review of artificial-sweetener studies found that food companies can sneak bias into scientific research, as evidenced by the lack of transparency about funding sources and conflicts of interest. Attributed to a study published by The Conversation in 2016, this can have a major impact on the accuracy of nutrition research. The findings suggest that more information about the sources of funding for nutrition studies should be readily available.
How can research partnerships ensure accurate and quality research?
In the conduct of public/private research relationships, all relevant parties should adhere to the Guiding Principles, which focus on factual, transparent, and objective research designs that generate appropriately phrased hypotheses, according to PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2020). This ensures greater accuracy and quality of scientific inquiry.
Nutrition Research
Do food industry-funded research articles have higher rates of positive findings?
Around 56% of research articles funded by the food industry reported positive findings, according to a paper published in Plos One by the University of Florida in 2020. This is more than five times higher than the 10% of articles without food industry involvement that reported positive findings.
What are the motivations behind corporate funding of food and nutrition research?
Corporate funding of food and nutrition research can be seen as a marketing strategy, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine by researchers from the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University in 2015. This research highlights the importance of understanding the motivations behind such funding and taking steps to ensure that research results remain unbiased.
How does food industry funding impact nutrition science?
The credibility of nutrition science is threatened by the influence of food industry funding on nutrition research, researchers, and professional societies. This has been a long-standing issue, as demonstrated by research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2016 showing that much of the research in the field is sponsored by industry. Research from this study also showed that health professionals and the general public are unaware of this fact, which further limits their trust in nutrition science.
Scientific Study
What should be considered when conducting research relationships?
Research relationships should be conducted objectively, with research designs that generate an appropriate hypothesis and data collection methods, according to accepted principles of scientific inquiry, as outlined in the Guiding Principles by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2009. It is important to ensure that research is transparent and factual.
Why has funding for food science and technology research declined?
Funding for food science and technology research has declined in recent years, according to a two-part editorial published in 2015 in the Journal of Food Science. The trend of flattening funding has been observed over the past decade. This is concerning as it affects the research and development of new technologies and processes in the food industry. Studies have shown that investment in research and development can increase overall economic growth.
Do industry-sponsored studies have a bias?
Industry sponsored studies were found to have a 31% increased risk of having a conclusion favouring the sponsors product, according to eight reports by The Conversation. This highlights how food companies can sneak bias into scientific research. The research also showed that industry funding was associated with a higher likelihood of research results that favour the funder's product.
Food Production
Should research funding from the food industry be welcomed?
Research funding from the food industry should be welcomed, according to Paul Aveyard and Derek Yach, but Anna B Gilmore and Simon Capewell suggest that it can lead to biased science. On BMJ, 2016, farmers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other stakeholders are part of the food industry.
How does the food industry influence research?
The study concluded that the food industry has a significant influence on published research, with manufacturers of processed food being the most involved. As stated by a study conducted by the University of Florida, the food industry is able to influence research through the provision of funding and the involvement of food company employees as part of research teams. Research has found that industry-funded studies are more likely to have outcomes that favor the funder than those that are not funded by the food industry.
How can we reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from food production?
Food production is responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2019 study by Our World in Data. This highlights the importance of transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and investing in renewable or nuclear energy in order to tackle climate change. The study found that agricultural production alone accounted for 11.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Corporate Support
What are the implications of corporate funding of food and nutrition research?
The conclusion of the article is that corporate funding of food and nutrition research can be both science and marketing. Marion Nestle, from the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, published an article in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2015 which discussed this topic. Corporate sponsorships have the potential to influence research results and distort public understanding of nutrition science.
Studies funded independently have consistently found a correlation between sugary drinks and poor health, while those funded by the soda industry have not. Via a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2019, food industry funding of nutrition research has had a longstanding influence on the results of these studies. Research has found that companies or trade associations promoting soft drinks, dairy foods, eggs, and breakfast cereals also play a role in influencing nutrition research.
What are the potential benefits of corporate funding for scientific research?
Corporate funding has been identified as a potential threat to the integrity of scientific research, as it can lead to an emphasis on short-term economic benefits over long-term knowledge production. An info from Richard Zare, a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, corporate funding can be beneficial as it provides enhanced funding for R&D and helps to transfer new knowledge to industry. Corporate funding can also promote economic growth.
Government Intervention
Should researchers accept research grants from the food industry?
Researchers should accept research grants from the food industry, according to Paul Aveyard and Derek Yach, however Anna B Gilmore and Simon Capewell argue that such funding may bias science. Food industry consists of farmers, processors, retailers, caterers and other companies involved in food production and consumption.
What impact has declining federal funding for food science and technology research had?
Declining federal funding for food science and technology research has been a concern for over a decade, as evidenced by an editorial in 2015 in the Journal of Food Science. On JFS, 2020 marks the tenth year of flat-lined funding for food science. This lack of funding has direct implications for the advancement and development of new food technologies.
How can food companies influence scientific research?
The review of artificial-sweetener studies showed that food companies can influence scientific research by hiding their funding sources and conflicts of interest, according to a study by The Conversation in 2016. This highlights the importance of transparency when conducting research in nutrition and health. Research has indicated that artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, can have negative health effects when consumed in large quantities.
Public Health
Should researchers accept research grants from the food industry?
Researchers should accept research grants from the food industry, according to Paul Aveyard and Derek Yach of the University of Oxford. Anna B Gilmore and Simon Capewell argue that such funding can lead to research bias. As indicated by a study published in 2019 in the British Medical Journal, food industry funding of public health research is associated with outcomes that are more favorable to industry interests.
Has funding for food science and technology research declined?
Funding for food science and technology research has declined in recent years, as evidenced by a two-part editorial in the Journal of Food Science in 2015. From data from the National Science Foundation, funding trends in this field have been flat. Knowledge of current funding trends is essential for researchers seeking to secure the necessary resources for their work.
How does industry-funded research influence nutrition research credibility?
The credibility of nutrition research is often undermined by industry-funded research that influences food policy, demonstrating how food companies can sneak bias into scientific research. As mentioned in a 2016 study published in The Conversation, this lack of transparency in funding sources can have serious implications for public health. A recent survey of literature on the subject revealed that very few studies disclosed their funding sources. This lack of transparency highlights the need to ensure rigorous and unbiased standards when it comes to nutrition research.
Risk Assessment
What is the FDA's risk analysis framework?
The FDA utilizes a risk analysis framework to form decisions about food safety, which integrates the dialogue between policy makers and scientists. From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this framework is designed to produce data to help inform risk management decisions. The data is used to assess the potential health risks of food.
What steps can be taken to reduce the risk of food contamination?
Risk assessment in the food industry is an evaluation of a food facility to identify and assess potential hazards that could lead to food contamination and harm. Quantum Food Solutions (on quantumfoodsolutions.com, 2020) explains that risk assessment includes identifying potential threats, assessing their severity, and determining the necessary steps to reduce the risk. Risk assessments may also include testing of food products and ingredients for safety.
What are the potential risks of introducing new foods?
Risk assessments in Food Safety and Health are essential for making well-informed decisions, according to the Plant Research Institute of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). On their website, WUR explains that the food industry is always introducing new foods with claimed health benefits, but consumer organizations are highlighting the potential risks. Real data shows that proper risk assessment is key to a safe food supply.
Disease Prevention
Can industry funding of research and health organizations lead to biased results?
Industry funding of research and health organizations can lead to biased results and experts being paid for their opinions, which can be damaging to the credibility of the research. As stated by Michigan Today (2016), Coca-Cola spent $21.8 million on pro-industry research and $96.8 million on partnerships with health organizations, including $2.1 million directly paid to health experts. This highlights the need for caution when assessing the results of industry-funded research, as the potential for bias is high.
How does food insecurity affect individuals?
Food insecurity is directly linked to rising food prices, resulting in individuals turning to nutrient-poor but calorie-rich foods and/or enduring hunger, according to the CDC - Centers for Disease Control. This can lead to consequences ranging from micronutrient deficiencies to stunted growth.
What are some sources of funding for healthy food access interventions?
The funding of healthy food access interventions can be achieved through a range of sources such as local community, family, and corporate foundations, as well as state and local departments of agriculture, health, and senior services, according to the guidance brief by Healthy Food Playbook (on HealthyFoodCommunityBenefit.noharm.org, 2020). Healthy food access programs are an important part of promoting food security and nutrition in communities.
Biotechnology
What is the UK's role in Europe's biotech sector?
The UK remains a global leader in the biotech sector despite a 72 percent decrease in the number of new startups between 2015 and 2020, leading Europe with 22 out of 70 companies. An info from McKinsey, 387 of the 1,382 biotechs in Europe originated in the UK, representing over 30 percent of the total. The UK is home to more than 5,000 life science companies and employs nearly a quarter of a million people in the sector.
Will the biotech IPO market remain strong in 2022?
Biotech IPOs have significantly slowed down in the second half of 2021, and with the Fed tees up rate increases for March, it is likely that the financing environment in 2022 will be different than before. As reported by Sage Intacct's blog on biotech in February 2022, the market has seen an influx of funding and IPOs have reached record levels in 2020 and 2021. The market is expected to face more challenging conditions in 2022.
What are some of the biggest biotech trends for 2022?
Biotech is set to become even more prominent in 2022, with advances in genetic engineering, genome sequencing, and the use of artificial intelligence changing the way we conduct research. From Forbes, progress in these areas will be one of the biggest biotech trends of the year. Personalized medicine and gene therapy are also expected to gain traction, with the potential for major breakthroughs in the field. Data from the World Health Organization shows that global spending on research and development of biopharmaceuticals has increased significantly in recent years.
Source:
- Ift : Food Science and Technology Research.
- Ufl : Study, Food industry funding, research.
- Nih : food science, nutrition research, - PubMed.
- Bmj : we, food industry funding, public.
- Nih : Corporate Funding, Food and Nutrition Research, Science, Marketing.
