Food industry critics including ultra-processed food moaner professor Chris van Tulleken have laid into the UK government’s use of scientists who have ties with or consult for food and drink manufacturers.

“More than half of the experts on the UK government’s advisory panel on nutrition have links to the food industry,” claimed a British Medical Journal (BMJ) analysis​.

While the report takes aim at the scientists, the industry and the nutritional value of the food and drink it produces have been caught in the crossfire.

No fewer than 11 of the 17 Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) – an organisation responsible for consulting on UK government health policy – “have conflicting interest with the likes of Nestlé, sugar manufacturer Tate & Lyle and Unilever”, the report said.

Do food and drink companies influence health policy? 

Scientists appointed as independent experts to the committee are a powerful group advising government and “influencing policy”. They produce recommended daily guidelines for salt, sugar, vitamin D intake and feeding babies, it continued.

Scientists, government and industry frequently work together “on the science that underpins the nutrition, food safety and security of our food and drink supply chain”, a spokesperson for the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said.

Read more – Opinion: Why F&B makers are villains over govt’s scientist picks​

Critics, however, argued that while scientists consulting with government must declare any conflicts of interest – and may be excluded from discussions as a result – obesity rates and food-related ill health are rising. Over a quarter of UK women (28.3%) and men (26.9%) are now obese, almost double the rate 30 years ago.