Food Lobbyists in Brazil: A Web of Influence

In Brazil, a group of associations has been working behind the scenes to block food advertising regulations. These groups, made up of companies from the food and communication sectors, have a long history of opposing such regulations. But how do they operate, and what tactics do they use to influence policy? To find out, researchers examined the websites of these associations and collected information on their affiliated companies. The study revealed a complex network of 413 companies, with 183 of them bel

onging to the food sector. The researchers identified 179 instances of corporate political activities, including 73 instrumental strategies and 106 discursive strategies. The most common instrumental strategies were information management and coalition management, while the discursive strategies focused on narratives about diet and public health concerns. The findings suggest that these associations are a powerful force in Brazil, using their influence to block regulations that could protect public health.

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