New research from the University of Bath has highlighted a disturbing trend of harassment and intimidation targeting researchers and advocates working in the tobacco, ultra-processed food (UPF) and alcohol sectors. The study, published in Health Promotion International, reveals that public discreditation is the most common method used by corporations and their allies to undermine those advocating for stronger public health regulations.

The research, led by Dr Karen A. Evans-Reeves from the University’s Department of Health and Tobacco Control Research Group, found that intimidation tactics extend beyond public criticism. Legal threats, complaints, and Freedom of Information Requests were also frequently reported. More extreme cases included surveillance, cyberattacks, and even threats of violence or burglary.

Dr Evans-Reeves explained, “We found intimidatory tactics towards advocates and researchers in every sector. Public discreditation accounted for half of the instances, with researchers criticised in traditional and social media, as well as in public arenas like consultations and evidentiary meetings.” She added that inflammatory language is routinely used to label public health advocates as “extremists,” “health jihadists,” or “religious fundamentalists.” Campaigners in the alcohol industry face terms like “nannyists,” while food regulation advocates are attacked with names such as “food fascists” and “gastronomical gestapo.”

These intimidation tactics aim to silence or delay public health campaigns. “Spreading these misleading perceptions hinders advocates’ ability to shape policy,” said Dr Evans-Reeves, though she noted a strong narrative of resilience among researchers. “Despite intimidation, most continued their work – although this may not reflect unreported cases where individuals abandon their efforts.”

The findings are particularly alarming given the role of these industries in contributing to non-communicable diseases, which account for nearly three-quarters of global deaths. Previously published research in The Lancet estimated that tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods collectively drive up to two-thirds of global fatalities, underlining the urgency of tighter regulation.

The study builds on prior investigations by the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group, which has long documented corporate interference in public health efforts. By exposing these unethical strategies, the researchers hope to empower advocates and create an environment where public health policies can evolve without corporate obstruction.

Dr Evans-Reeves concluded, “By shining a spotlight on these tactics, we aim to reduce their chilling effect on efforts to improve health and help researchers anticipate and respond to such attacks.”

This work was conducted in collaboration with George Washington University and Inserm, with support from organisations such as Vital Strategies and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The researchers stress that their funders had no involvement in the study’s design or findings, ensuring its independence.

Source: University of Bath