Corporate tactics like suppressing research and manufacturing doubt prevent effective health regulations and public awareness, especially concerning forever chemicals and ultra-processed foods.
This corporate behavior has contributed to diseases linked to tobacco, alcohol, and fossil fuels, implicated in a significant portion of global deaths.
Despite known dangers, companies like 3M and DuPont concealed damaging health effects of their products to protect profits, influencing both consumer safety and environmental health.
Key quote:
"We now know exposure to just four classes of product – tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods and fossil fuels – are linked to one out of every three deaths worldwide."
— Nicholas Chartres and Lisa Bero, co-authors
Why this matters:
Understanding the extent of corporate influence on our health is important, especially as these practices contribute significantly to global mortality and disease. Stronger regulations and transparency to expose unethical practices can mitigate these risks. Read more: The birth of greenwashing.
The false campaign by environmental activists claimed that the toy giant was launching a new line of decomposable Barbies and would stop using plastic by 2030.
In July 2015 workers noticed a leak in a pipeline and reported a spill to the North Dakota Department of Health that remains officially listed as 10 gallons.
