The food industry in Australia and New Zealand has managed to hold off near-universal calls from public health experts for government to crack down on junk food and sugar through its influential lobbying tactics, says the co-author of an Australian study. Food industry lobbyists enjoyed "direct influence on politicians ('we have friends in high places')". "A 'revolving door' of former politicians working for the food industry and former food industry employees working in government, were also common strategies mentioned to influence food policies in favour of the industry," he says. Katherine Rich, chief executive of the NZ Food and Grocery Council and a former National Party MP, said the study did not apply to New Zealand. "I was surprised by the paper's conclusion as it doesn't reconcile with the professional approach taken by food industry people I've dealt with in Australia."

Source: Otago Daily Times January 24, 2017 05:29 UTC