Corporations' use and misuse of evidence to influence health policy: a case study of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) are a major source of sugar in the diet. Although trends in consumption vary across regions, in many countries, particularly LMICs, their consumption continues to increase. In response, a growing number of governments have introduced a tax on SSBs. SSB manufacturers have opposed such taxes, disputing the role that SSBs play in diet-related diseases and the effectiveness of SSB taxation, and alleging major economic impacts. Given the importance of evidence to effective regulation of products harmful to human health, we scrutinised industry submissions to the South African government's consultation on a proposed SSB tax and examined their use of evidence. RESULTS:Corporate submissions were underpinned by several strategies involving the misrepresent

SUBMITTER: Fooks GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6760066 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature