Have you noticed how some of the large food corporations are trying to change their reputation in the way they brand their products? They are banking on the health benefits of their products while trying to mask how too much consumption will ruin your health.
These corporations may have convinced you that their products contain all-natural ingredients and may even have actual fruits and vegetables. However, have you ever wondered about the processes that these products went through before they reached your hands? Most processed foods consist of either too much sugar or too much salt, or both.
The big food corporations have become more aggressive in changing their reputation in the eyes of the public. They have penetrated the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and even sponsored educational sessions for dietitians. The influence of food corporations on the Academy has stirred a lot of scrutiny. The ethical and moral obligations of its members are being questioned in the process.
Lucille Beseller, the president of the Academy, has responded to the allegations in an email she sent. She said that their members can differentiate marketing from science and that their members can use their sound judgment and professional experience in determining whether the sessions are supported by scientific facts. She also said that the members of the Academy need to be familiar with all the products in the market, so they can provide better recommendations to their clients. Furthermore, these sessions count as forms of continuing education credits that dietitians need in order to maintain their licenses.
David Wiss, one of the members of the Dietitians for Professional Integrity, has called out the Academy and demanded that they show autonomy from the big food industries. He believes that the sessions provided by these corporations are self-serving as they try to integrate their products in the sessions by showing their health benefits. Wiss feels that these companies are not the right people to teach them about food and wellness because of the vested interests that they have.
Marion Nestle, a nutrition professor of New York University, reviewed the slides from a sponsored session, and she thinks that they do not count as educational materials. She said that the slides showed the company’s view of the product; thus, it falls under marketing campaigns.
While others believe that these companies help in improving the way we eat, it is still a question, whether their manner of educating the public is aimed to sincerely educate or if it is a way to market their products.
