Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2019
Abstract
The food, tobacco and alcohol industries have penetrated markets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a significant impact on these countries’ burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Tangcharoensathien and colleagues describe the aggressive marketing of unhealthy food, alcohol and tobacco in LMICs, as well as key tactics used by these industries to resist laws and policies designed to reduce behavioural risk factors for NCDs. This commentary expands on the recommendations made by Tangcharoensathien and colleagues for preventing or managing conflicts of interest and reducing undue industry influence on NCD prevention policies and laws, focusing on the needs of LMICs. A growing body of research proposes ways to design voluntary industry initiatives to make them more effective, transparent and accountable, but governments should also consider whether collaboration with health-harming industries is ever appropriate. More fundamentally, mechanisms for identifying, managing and mitigating conflicts of interest and reducing industry influence must be woven into – and supported by – broader governance and regulatory structures at both national and international levels.
Publication Citation
International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(7), 450–454.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Reeve, Belinda and Gostin, Lawrence O., "“Big” Food, Tobacco, and Alcohol: Reducing Industry Influence on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention Laws and Policies" (2019). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 2167.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2167
Included in
Food and Drug Law Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons