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Understanding the Corporate Influence on Public Health
During the recent Health and Sport Week at Trinity College Dublin, Dr May van Schalkwyk, a public health doctor and researcher, delivered a keynote that shed light on how commercial actors shape health outcomes. She acknowledged that many businesses contribute positively to society, yet emphasized that certain products and practices drive avoidable illness, environmental damage, and health inequities. The talk highlighted the need for a critical examination of industry practices, especially in sectors such as alcohol, gambling, pesticides, and ultra‑processed foods.
Tactics Used by Industries to Shape Perception
Dr van Schalkwyk traced a line from the infamous 1969 tobacco industry memo—”Doubt is our product”—to modern strategies employed by a range of corporations. She explained that today’s actors deploy public relations campaigns, “health washing”, funded journalism, corporate social responsibility initiatives, social‑media influencers, industry‑funded research, and sophisticated marketing to create uncertainty and promote the idea of free choice. These tactics are not limited to tobacco; they appear in the promotion of fossil fuels, alcohol, gambling, certain technologies, and asbestos.
Insights from the Q&A and Documentary Screening
Following the presentation, a question‑and‑answer session with Associate Professor Norah Campbell from Trinity Business School was chaired by Professor Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine. The discussion was complemented by a screening of the documentary Unmasking Influence, which illustrates how commercial interests infiltrate public policy. Panelists highlighted concrete examples of influence, such as lobbying efforts that weaken regulation and the placement of unhealthy products in everyday settings.
Pathways to Transformative Change
The event featured five pitches for systemic change, each offering a practical avenue to counter corporate harm:
- Gerry Godley of Breadman Walking advocated for the role of sliced pans in promoting healthy, sustainable diets.
- Paula Leonard, CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland, called for broader adoption of the iMark initiative to reduce alcohol‑industry influence.
- Associate Professor Norah Campbell proposed taxing ultra‑processed foods and removing subsidies from the conglomerates that sell them.
- Professor Brendan Kelly pointed to the success of banning highly hazardous pesticides in Asia, which led to a sharp decline in suicides, and urged similar gun‑control measures in the United States.
- Martina Mullin invited attendees to reclaim the Irish pub as a community third space through plain packaging of alcohol, higher off‑license taxes, and reinvestment of those revenues into local pubs.
These ideas demonstrate that alternative models are feasible when policy, community action, and academic insight align.
How You Can Get Involved
Whether you are a student, public‑health professional, policymaker, or concerned citizen, there are several ways to engage with the topics raised at Health and Sport Week:
- Explore Healthy Trinity’s programs and learn about upcoming workshops on industry influence and public health.
- Contact Trinity College Dublin’s Public Affairs team to request a copy of the keynote transcript or to inquire about future events.
- Browse the Trinity College Dublin events calendar for additional lectures, seminars, and workshops related to health, sustainability, and corporate accountability.
- Subscribe to the Trinity College Dublin public‑health newsletter for regular updates on research, policy briefs, and community initiatives.
- Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below or on social media using the hashtag #HealthIndustryImpact to keep the conversation going.
By staying informed and participating in dialogue, you can help push for policies that prioritize health over profit and support initiatives that reduce corporate harm.
