Manipulating scientific data in the modern age
There's a food dye war going on.
The Southampton Study was the major study that was supposed to change everything, as they mimicked real-life food dye consumption in children in a double-blind, controlled, placebo study. It was completed in 2007. It showed evidence of neurological impacts in some children (1 in 8 children).
But regulators don't cite this study, instead, they cite the EFSA's - European Food Safety Authorities - interpretation of this study. The EFSA downplayed the findings and determined food dye was safe for all children despite the study.
Who are the people on this panel and do they have any ties to the food dye/chemical industry that could influence their decision on this matter? There's AI for that.
Riccardo Crebelli
Served as a consultant for ILSI without declaring this to EFSA, leading to calls for his dismissal from the ANS panel. He was also a member of an ILSI scientific committee on food packaging safety.
Wolfgang Dekant
Received a payment from the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, an industry group, for an article on bisphenol A while serving on an EFSA panel, raising questions about the panel's positive opinion on BPA.
John Chr. Larsen
Failed to declare his active collaborations with ILSI Europe while serving on the ANS panel.
Iona Pratt
Failed to declare her active collaborations with ILSI Europe while serving on the ANS panel.
Paul Tobback
Was barred from chairing the ANS panel by EFSA because of his declared past consultancy work for the industry.
Rainer Gürtler
A member of the panel that re-evaluated food additives, including colorings. While not a direct link to a company, his role makes his position relevant to the overall assessment of industry ties.
The Southampton Study was the major study that was supposed to change everything, as they mimicked real-life food dye consumption in children in a double-blind, controlled, placebo study. It was completed in 2007. It showed evidence of neurological impacts in some children (1 in 8 children).
But regulators don't cite this study, instead, they cite the EFSA's - European Food Safety Authorities - interpretation of this study. The EFSA downplayed the findings and determined food dye was safe for all children despite the study.
Who are the people on this panel and do they have any ties to the food dye/chemical industry that could influence their decision on this matter? There's AI for that.
Susan Barlow
Chair of the Panel that assesses additives.
She has a long-standing relationship with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), an industry-funded lobby group, and was also an advisor for the Tesco supermarket chain. NGOs have called this a "clear conflict of interest" that EFSA ignored.
Chair of the Panel that assesses additives.
She has a long-standing relationship with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), an industry-funded lobby group, and was also an advisor for the Tesco supermarket chain. NGOs have called this a "clear conflict of interest" that EFSA ignored.
Riccardo Crebelli
Served as a consultant for ILSI without declaring this to EFSA, leading to calls for his dismissal from the ANS panel. He was also a member of an ILSI scientific committee on food packaging safety.
Wolfgang Dekant
Received a payment from the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, an industry group, for an article on bisphenol A while serving on an EFSA panel, raising questions about the panel's positive opinion on BPA.
John Chr. Larsen
Failed to declare his active collaborations with ILSI Europe while serving on the ANS panel.
Iona Pratt
Failed to declare her active collaborations with ILSI Europe while serving on the ANS panel.
Paul Tobback
Was barred from chairing the ANS panel by EFSA because of his declared past consultancy work for the industry.
Rainer Gürtler
A member of the panel that re-evaluated food additives, including colorings. While not a direct link to a company, his role makes his position relevant to the overall assessment of industry ties.
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a recurring theme. It is an organization largely funded by major food and chemical corporations, including Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Monsanto. Critics argue that ILSI acts as a lobbying arm for the industry, and several of the EFSA experts were found to have worked with it without properly declaring these ties.
Whose really in charge of food dye regulations in Canada? Is it Health Canada or the ILSI?
Whose really in charge of food dye regulations in Canada? Is it Health Canada or the ILSI?
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