Industry Influence: Experts call for ‘big food’ ban at future SA Nutrition Congresses

Nutrition experts have called for a ban on ultra-processed food companies from future South African Nutrition Congresses, alleging conflicts of interest that could compromise the event's integrity. At the recent biennial congress, Danone Southern Africa, Unilever South Africa, and PepsiCo were among the exhibitors, raising concerns among nutrition professionals.

Tamryn Frank, a senior lecturer at the University of the Western Cape's School of Public Health, argued that allowing these companies to sponsor and exhibit at the congress created the impression that the event endorsed their products as solutions to South Africa's nutrition crisis. Catherine Pereira-Kotze, a consultant researcher at the South African Medical Research Council, noted that South Africa faces challenges such as undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, obesity, poverty, and inequality, making families more susceptible to ultra-processed foods.

To protest the alleged conflict of interest, Frank, Pereira-Kotze, and other experts shared protest slides during their presentations and created a petition. The petition demanded that the congress organizers ban ultra-processed food companies from participating in future events and issue an apology. The congress organizers responded by stating that all exhibitors, including the three food companies, complied with the event's criteria and were approved after review against healthy eating guidelines and regulations.