May 15, 2008
More on school lunch panel conflict of interest
Sandy Szwarc, who does a terrific job on her JunkFood Science blog, adds to the discussion about conflicts of interest on the school lunch panel - something I blogged about two days ago.
But in her perspective:
"...industry funding is often the least of concerns when it comes to possible conflicts of interest. If your entire career has been based on the belief that obesity is due to bad foods and inactivity; if your professional reputation and status among your peers, your speaking engagements and book deals, and the grant funding you’ve brought to your university* or program have all been based on an obesity crisis and dietary behavioral interventions; if you’ve been hand-selected for a prestigious committee, sponsored by a major funder who has made obesity and diet and lifestyle interventions its key agenda; and if you are surrounded by like-minded important people — how likely do you think you would be to risk all of that by seriously questioning and objectively examining the evidence that might tumble the entire house of cards and put you on the outs in your field?
Right. It’s not going to happen. It's human nature.The public has been invited by the IOM to comment on its provisional committee selection for the next 7 days week here, but it goes to the IOM committee members with even more prestigious and influential positions in line with the war on obesity. The bigger issue is that we have private vested interests funding and influencing the health policies of federal agencies and health programs that affect you and your children. Until the National Academy of Sciences cleans its own house, the public and the integrity of science-based policies will continue to lose."
She adds a very important addendum to the discussion. I don't know how she manages that prolific blog, but keep it up, Sandy.
Posted by schwitz at May 15, 2008 06:49 AM | TrackBack