What policies are needed to counter the commercial determinants of health?

Authors

  • Claudio Schuftan World Public Health Nutrition Association (WPHNA)
  • Angela Carriedo

Abstract

Main points: This commentary aims to bring up to the attention of the reader the relevance and key role of activists in countering the commercial determinants of health. We suggest some strategies   and key activities for activists. We also highlight the multiple challenges activists will (and have) undoubtedly face(d).   We integrate a few examples pertaining to these points to exemplify what we mean here and why we are being harsh in the language we use and/or the actions we propose. There are multiple experiences hinting the way on how activists encompassing several fields ought to be going ahead.

 

Author Biographies

Claudio Schuftan, World Public Health Nutrition Association (WPHNA)

PhD

Secretaria de Politicas, World Public Health Nutrition Association (WPHNA)

 

Angela Carriedo

RD, MSC, PHD

Policy Secretary, WPHNA

Senior Public Health Researcher/Campaigner, Corporate Accountability

 

References

Lacy-Nichols J, Marten R. Power and the commercial determinants of health: ideas for a research agenda. BMJ global health 2021; 6(2): e003850.

Kickbusch I, Allen L, Franz C. The commercial determinants of health. Lancet Glob Health 2016; 4.

Labonté R. Purveyors of the Commercial Determinants of Health Have No Place at Any Policy Table; Comment on “Towards Preventing and Managing Conflict of Interest in Nutrition Policy? An Analysis of Submissions to a Consultation on a Draft WHO Tool”. International Journal of Health Policy and Management 2020: -.

WHO. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health - Final report of the commission on social determinants of health. 2008. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-IER-CSDH-08.1.

FIAN. When Food Becomes Immaterial: Confronting the Digital Age. 10: FIAN,, 2018.

Williams CR, Kestenbaum JG, Meier BM. Populist nationalism threatens health and human rights in the COVID-19 response. American Public Health Association; 2020. p. 1766-8.

Fleetwood J. Social justice, food loss, and the sustainable development goals in the era of COVID-19. Sustainability 2020; 12(12): 5027.

b Mialon, M., & Pinsky, I. (2022). Food industry responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: public health or public relations?. World Nutrition, 13(1), 2-75.

Kickbusch I. Addressing the commercial determinants is critical to emerging economies. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. 2015;20(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015204.19962014.

Michéle L, Prato S, Patti R, Valente FL. When the SUN casts a shadow. The human risks of multi-stakeholder parterships: the case of Scaling up Nutrition (SUN): FIAN, 2019.

Canfield M, Anderson MD, McMichael P. UN Food Systems Summit 2021: Dismantling Democracy and Resetting Corporate Control of Food Systems. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2021; 5: 103.

Mele V, ANDERFUHREN‐BIGET S, Varone F. Conflicts of interest in international organizations: Evidence from two United Nations humanitarian agencies. Public Administration 2016; 94(2): 490-508.

Sethi SP, Schepers DH. United Nations global compact: The promise–performance gap. Journal of Business Ethics 2014; 122(2): 193-208.

Schuftan C. Activism to face world hunger: Exploring new needed commitments. Social Change 1990; 20(4): 45-50.

Schuftan C. Actions and activism in fostering genuine grassroots participation in health and nutrition. World Nutrition 2019; 10(4): 147-51.

Schuftan C. Activism, profession, compassion and political solidarity. Human Rights Reader Nr 85, . Human Rights Reader 2023.

de Freitas Netto SV, Sobral MFF, Ribeiro ARB, Soares GRdL. Concepts and forms of greenwashing: a systematic review. Environmental Sciences Europe 2020; 32(1): 19.

Bradley CA. The costs of international human rights litigation. Chi J Int'l L 2001; 2: 457.

Yoshida K, Setzer J. The trends and challenges of climate change litigation and human rights. European Human Rights Law Review 2020; 2020(2): 140-52.

La Via Campesina. 2022. https://viacampesina.org/es/quienes-somos/.

Published

2023-07-11

Issue

Section

Editorials