Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17564

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Moynihan R
American Council on Science and Health
BMJ 2010 Apr 7; 340:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/340/apr07_2/c1819

Abstract:

The mission of the American Council on Science and Health has remained the same since it was formed over 25 years ago: to promote sound science and help the public distinguish genuine health threats from purely hypothetical ones.1 Unashamed to take an unpopular stance on the big issues of our times, the council regularly weighs in on heated public debates about food safety, drug regulation, and potentially toxic pollution. The main targets of its criticism, however, are generally not the chemical giants, drug companies, or the food industry. Rather these industries are the council’s funders. The council sees the real threat as coming from those who believe chemicals are inherently dangerous, those who want to see tougher drug safety standards, and those obsessed with exposing conflicts of interest within the healthcare establishment.

Although the council’s reports and publications generate media interest and public attention, it is not a lobby group. . . .