“The architecture of the state was transformed in favour of the interests of companies”: corporate political activity of the food industry in Colombia

Abstract

Background In Colombia, public health policies to improve food environments, including front-of-pack nutrition labelling and marketing restrictions for unhealthy products, are currently under development. Opposition to these policies by the food industry is currently delaying and weakening these efforts. This opposition is commonly known as ‘corporate political activity’ (CPA) and includes instrumental (action-based) strategies and discursive (argument-based) strategies. Our aim was to identify the CPA of the food industry in Colombia. Methods We conducted a document analysis of information available in the public domain published between January–July 2019. We triangulated this data with interviews with 17 key informants. We used a deductive approach to data analysis, based on an existing framework for the CPA of the food industry. Results We identified 275 occurrences of CPA through our analysis of publicly available information. There were 197 examples of instrumental strategies and 138 examples of discursive strategies (these categories are not mutually exclusive, 60 examples belong to both categories). Interview participants also shared information about the CPA in the country. The industry used its discursive strategies to portray the industry in a ‘better light’, demonstrating its efforts in improving food environments and its role in the economic development of the country. The food industry was involved in several community programmes, including through public private initiatives. The industry also captured the media and tried to influence the science on nutrition and non-communicable diseases. Food industry actors were highly prominent in the policy sphere, through their lobbying, close relationships with high ranking officials and their support for self-regulation in the country. Conclusions The proximity between the industry, government and the media is particularly evident and remains largely unquestioned in Colombia. The influence of vulnerable populations in communities and feeling of insecurity by public health advocates is also worrisome. In Colombia, the CPA of the food industry has the potential to weaken and delay efforts to develop and implement public health policies that could improve the healthiness of food environments. It is urgent that mechanisms to prevent and manage the influence of the food industry are developed in the country.

Food environment solutions for childhood obesity in Latin America and among Latinos living in the United States

“…In Colombia, food companies engage in SFPs and community feeding programs by distributing unhealthy packaged foods to children. 172 These corporate initiatives are sometimes carried out in partnership with local and national authorities 172 and may certainly help food industry actors portray themselves through a positive light in communities and among policymakers. 168 This is particularly important for the industry when it is at risk of being regulated.…”

“…In Colombia, food companies' employees provide training to health professionals working with children as part of a national program. 172 In Chile, food companies regularly sponsor pediatrics and nutrition annual congresses. 176 …”

“…In Colombia, food companies' employees provide training to health professionals working with children as part of a national program. 172 In Chile, food companies regularly sponsor pediatrics and nutrition annual congresses. 176 These political practices to influence public policy, research, and practice in Latin America 172,174,176 are consistent with those used by food industry actors around the world, [177][178][179][180][181] including the United States.…”

“…172 In Chile, food companies regularly sponsor pediatrics and nutrition annual congresses. 176 These political practices to influence public policy, research, and practice in Latin America 172,174,176 are consistent with those used by food industry actors around the world, [177][178][179][180][181] including the United States. 168 Today, in isolation and when combined, these practices are a major obstacle in the protection and promotion of healthy diets and in the fight against childhood obesity.…”

“…These initiatives often purport to support obesity prevention and put a particular emphasis on personal responsibility and physical inactivity, 168,170,171 shifting the blame onto individuals for their ill‐health, while usually avoiding the question of the healthiness (or not) of food products. In Colombia, food companies engage in SFPs and community feeding programs by distributing unhealthy packaged foods to children 172 . These corporate initiatives are sometimes carried out in partnership with local and national authorities 172 and may certainly help food industry actors portray themselves through a positive light in communities and among policymakers 168 .…”