Search

Background: There is growing evidence that the ‘corporate political activity’ (CPA) of the food industry is a major barrier to the development and implementation of public health policies to promote healthy food environments. The CPA, by targeting the public and health professionals, amongst others, could also promote the consumption of industrial foods, including ultraprocessed ones, which is known to lead to ill-health. The purpose of the present study was to map the actors, history and the CPA of the baby food industry in France. Methods: The study consisted of an analysis of publicly available information for data published between May 2019 and April 2021. Interviews with key informants from academia, civil society and the government served to triangulate that information. For both parts of the study, a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted, using an existing classification of the CPA. Results: During the study period, Danone and Nestle´ used action-based ‘instrumental strategies’. The most prominent strategy was ‘information strategy’, used to fund, produce, and disseminate industry-preferred information. Danone and Nestle´ were further found to ‘establish relationships with key opinion leaders and health organisations’, such as pediatric societies, ‘seek involvement in community’, especially during the Covid19 crisis and used voluntary commitments, a practice that may help avoid the mandatory regulation of their harmful products and practices. The companies also employed argument-based ‘discursive strategies’ to frame the debate on diet- and public health-related issues. Conclusions: These findings can be used to recognize, anticipate, and address CPA practices that may negatively influence infant, child and maternal health, by ensuring that the commercial interests of the industry do not prevail over public health goals. Key messages: The baby food industry uses a range of political practices in France, which may negatively influence infant, child and maternal health. This study seeks to uncover and describe these practices. This research will serve us both for the political environment, an advocacy work, but also to broaden scientific knowledge on the subject, in France and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I develop the social amplification of risk framework focusing on organisational strategies that seek to minimise or conceal certain risks rather than amplifying them. I link this analysis to theoretical work on the social production of ignorance. I draw on data from a case study of the French association of salt producers that explores the ways in which the association with limited resources sought to counteract public health messages that salt posed a risk to health. I show that the association used four main strategies in an attempt to manufacture ignorance in relation to the nutritional risks of salt: indirect communication and dissimulation, denial, diversion and undermining or intimidating opponents. I conclude that these strategies are part of a repertoire of action which is available to many industrial organisations that are trying to counteract public health claims that their products are a danger to health. I argue that it is important to integrate studies of the social amplification and attenuation of risk with analysis of the resources and strategies used to minimise or amplify risk. I suggest that the strategies used by certain powerful actors to minimise or conceal certain health or environmental risks should be analysed more closely in risk studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]