Food scientists: it's time to raise your voices

For far too long those working in the industry and academia have let ill-informed commentators – in the media, celebrities, politicians and in various lobby groups – bang on relentlessly, promoting their pet prejudices, which are based on the flimsiest of evidence if any at all.

I accept that scientists don’t always agree and, sometimes, can have diametrically opposite views. But, with a little bit of investigation, it isn’t too hard to ascertain where the balance of evidence lies on any particular argument, via systematic reviews and meta-analysis of research papers, which contrast and combine results from different studies to identify general patterns.

Excessive air time ​

I’m sure many will remember the excessive ‘air time’ given by national broadcasters and others a few years back to the medic who shamelessly peddled a supposed link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. The damage caused in undermining the ‘herd theory’ of immunisation, by frightening off some parents from getting their kids vaccinated, is still haunting us today.

Over the past month I’ve attended a number of conferences at which food scientists and technologists have begun to stand up and be counted. It's not easy to be vilified with false accusations about industry bias, etc.

'The triumph of evil'​

But I don’t think it’s over the top to refer to the famous quotation: ‘The only thing needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’

Meanwhile, the Food Manufacture Group is staging an independent, free, one-hour webinar on Thursday July 3 devoted to obesity. The online seminar, designed to move the debate onto a firmer scientific footing, is being organised in conjunction with the Institute of Food Science & Technology, the British Dietetics Association and the Nutrition Society. Reserve your free place at the webinar here​.