Food Charities and Corporations: A Closer Look at Their UK Relationships

Did you know that some food charities in the UK work with big food companies? While these companies claim to help tackle hunger, they are often the ones causing food insecurity. So, why are these relationships so complicated? Let's dive into that! Researchers have long debated these partnerships. They point out that food corporations might be creating hunger problems while also helping to fix them. This is a major issue for health studies that rely on these corporations' input. Enter the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH) framework. It's like a new toolbox that helps us look at these relationships in a fresh way. This study used this toolbox to look at how food charities and corporations in the UK work together.The results were surprising. We saw different strategies used by corporations. Some of these strategies weren't really designed to fight food insecurity. Instead, they were used to boost the company's image. This toolbox, the CDoH, opens up new research paths. It helps us see the hidden issues and inequalities in these relationships. It also shows us how corporations can use charity work to make themselves look good. Using this framework, health researchers can join the bigger effort in public health to understand how corporations impact health and fairness.