New TCRG review on intimidation of researchers and advocates working on Unhealthy Commodity Industries

26 November 2024, at 16:59.

A new review from the Tobacco Control Research Group and collaborators from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and Inserm maps the types of intimidation experienced by those working on tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food. It explores the impact of intimidation, how people respond to being intimidated, and whether or not these responses are effective.

The team included 64 sources in the analysis, with over 60% documenting intimidation in the tobacco sector. The most common types of intimidation were public discreditation, followed by legal threats and action, complaints and freedom of information requests. Less common types were surveillance, threats of violence, violence, burglary and bribery.

The paper builds on previous TCRG work on intimidation in tobacco control, including a study suggesting that intimidation is a key challenge in tobacco control and a study exploring responses to intimidation and possible ways forward.

Lead author Karen Evans-Reeves notes:

“Intimidatory tactics are notably similar across Unhealthy Commodity Industries. Working together and learning from each other on how to prepare for and respond to intimidation could be beneficial.”

Read the paper:

Intimidation against advocates and researchers in the tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food spaces: a review, Karen A Evans-Reeves, Britta K Matthes, Phil Chamberlain, Nino Paichadze, Anna B Gilmore, Melissa Mialon, Health Promotion International, Published Online First: 21 November 2024, doi: 10. 1093/heapro/daae153