Researchers Warn of Corporate Influence in Health and Nutrition Research

Corporate money has become more important in research but could be compromising the quality or publication of findings

Researchers looking for funding sometimes turn to large corporations, but that money comes with strings that could compromise the quality of findings—or bury them entirely. Alexander Raths/Shutterstock

For the health-conscious consumer, it’s hard to keep up with the dizzying array of products on offer. Consumers want unbiased information to help them make the right choices, and industry says it is listening and working with health researchers to provide better and more nutritionally sound products. For academia, this can translate to serious funding opportunities.

Researchers and academics are increasingly being encouraged—even required—to get research funding from different sources, including industry and nonprofit organizations funded by industry. Generating income has become as important as the quality of academic output in decisions about hiring, retaining, and even firing academic and research staff. In public health and nutrition, however, industry money remains the subject of fiery debate.