Soda Science

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This book takes readers into the secretive realm of corporate science, where major companies and academic allies manipulate research to serve industry interests. During the challenging 1990s, the soda industry faced rising obesity rates in the U.S., with public health advocates targeting sugary drinks and proposing soda taxes that threatened corporate profits. In response, Coca-Cola enlisted academic supporters to create a "soda-defense science," promoting exercise over dietary restraint as the primary solution to obesity—a stance few experts endorse. Anthropologist Susan Greenhalgh uncovers a hidden network of organizations and practices dedicated to producing industry-friendly science while keeping it concealed. Her investigation spans two decades, revealing how corporate science has influenced societal norms around fitness and health, from the U.S. to China, where it has shaped national obesity policies and chronic disease management. Greenhalgh asserts that while Coke's research was conducted by reputable scientists, it was distorted by its commercial objectives. This compelling narrative raises essential questions about conflicts of interest in scientific research, the funding behind health messages, and how corporations manipulate our diets and lifestyles for profit.