Junk Food Politics: How Beverage and Fast Food Industries are Reshaping Emerging Economies

The Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs Program on Global Health and Medicine presents “Junk Food Politics: How Beverage and Fast Food Industries are Reshaping Emerging Economies” by Eduardo J. Gómez, professor in the Department of Community and Population Health and director of the Institute of Health Policy and Politics, Lehigh University.

Sugary beverage and fast-food industries are thriving in emerging countries, despite government efforts to reduce nutrition-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Industry leaders have created surprising coalitions and manipulated scientific research while garnering support among the poor through popular social programs. As a result, people are unable to mobilize in support of stricter regulation for the marketing and sale of unhealthy products, particularly among vulnerable groups like children and the poor. Eduardo J. Gómez discusses how junk food corporations restructure politics and society before agenda-setting ever takes place, and how they create transnational nongovernmental organizations that support industry views.

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