Politicians have been urged to reject free hospitality from businesses that sell unhealthy food and drink to avoid conflicts of interest in policy making.
A new report claimed such ‘freebies’ are among a number of strategies used by the tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink industries to delay and undermine public health policies in order to protect their business models.
Developed by the Obesity Health Alliance, Action on Smoking and Health, and Alcohol Health Alliance, the report called on the government to adopt transparent principles for engaging with businesses selling unhealthy products and challenge common industry arguments that undermine public health.
It said these arguments include denying or playing down the evidence of harms linked to their products; using legal threats and actions to interfere with and delay implementation of effective policies to protect public health; and using corporate social responsibility (CSR) to signal their virtue at the expense of public health and wellbeing.
Among the recommendations is for MPs to reject corporate hospitality, such as tickets to sporting or cultural events, from unhealthy product industries. The report found it is common for industries to approach MPs with offers of gifts and hospitality as a means of gaining access to them and warned that businesses are spending money because they believe it will be in their financial interests.
“While in many cases MPs may perceive there to be little harm in accepting a ticket for a sporting event or passing on a concert ticket to a staff member, there is no such thing as a free lunch,” the report said.
MPs have been required to register their financial interests, including gifts, benefits and hospitality, for the past 50 years but only if the value of the gift exceeds £300.
