Experts who advise the Government on sugar consumption were under fire last night after it was revealed they receive funding from confectionery giants. Five out of eight members of a committee tasked with helping to tackle Britain’s obesity epidemic have ‘worryingly close’ ties with the food industry, it was claimed.
They include chairman Professor Ian Macdonald – one of the country’s leading nutritionists – who works as a paid advisor for Coca-Cola and Mars.
Yesterday critics said those who sat on the so-called ‘sugar committee’ could not be trusted because many of them are ‘in bed’ with food manufacturers. The row comes as food giants are being urged to cut sugar in products amid fears it has become the ‘new tobacco’.
Doctors and academics say sugar levels must be reduced by at least 30 per cent to halt a wave of disease and death. The typical Briton consumes 12 teaspoons of sugar a day – and there are nine in a can of Coca-Cola and eight in a 51g Mars Bar. Professor Macdonald is paid £6,100 to sit on two advisory boards for Coca-Cola and also receives a larger payment for advising Mars.
His research at Nottingham University has now received more than £1million in the past three years from the food industry, including £300,000 from Mars. Funding also comes from Unilever – the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer.
The disclosures yesterday prompted calls for the scientist to resign from the panel because of an ‘unacceptable’ conflict of interests.
More on the big payola scheme here.
Thanks to Indy for the link.
Eddie
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