US Right to Know Food Industry Collection

The USRTK Food Industry Collection contains documents obtained by U.S. Right to Know through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and state public records requests.

The collection includes:

• Correspondence among the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), governmental health organizations, and the Coca-Cola Company, regarding specific research and research methods; managing reactions and responses to news or actions perceived as negative to Coca-Cola’s business; working collaboratively on obesity issues and consumer choices; forming beneficial connections with officials at WHO; thanks and acknowledgment for support and guidance among Coke executives and CDC officials.


• Communications between academic researchers and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a global organization funded by large multinational food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola. ILSI was founded in 1978 by Alex Malaspina, a vice president at Coca-Cola. The documents illustrate the network connecting for-profit food and beverage companies with scientific experts who produce research and recommendations affecting government policy and regulation.


• Contracts, gift agreements, sponsored research agreements (in draft and final form), and related correspondence between the Coca-Cola Company and public health, nutrition, and biomedical research centers.


• Communications between US Food and Beverage corporations and entities such as the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Related Resources

• Carriedo A, Pinsky I, Crosbie E, Ruskin G, Mialon M. The corporate capture of the nutrition profession in the USA: the case of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Public Health Nutrition, 2022.
• Zaltz DA, Bisi LE, Ruskin G, Hoe C. How independent is the international food information council from the food and beverage industry? A content analysis of internal industry documents Global Health, 19. 2022.
• Steele S, Ruskin G, Sarcevic L, McKee M, Stuckler D. Are industry-funded charities promoting “advocacy-led studies” or “evidence-based science”?: a case study of the International Life Sciences Institute. Globalization and Health, 2019.
• Steele S, Ruskin G, McKee M, Stuckler D. “Always read the small print”: a case study of commercial research funding, disclosure and agreements with Coca-Cola. Journal of Public Health Policy, 2019.
• Maani Hessari N, Ruskin G, McKee M, Stuckler D. Public Meets Private: Conversations Between Coca‐Cola and the CDC. The Milbank Quarterly, 2019.
• Dyer O. "International Life Sciences Institute is advocate for food and drink industry, say researchers." The British Medical Journal, 2019.
• Nelsen A. "Science institute that advised EU and UN 'actually industry lobby group'." The Guardian, June 3, 2019.
• Jacobs A. "A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World." The New York Times, September 16, 2019.
• The Health 202: Coca-Cola emails reveal how soda industry tries to influence health officials
• Chase-Lubitz J."Coca-Cola tried to influence CDC on research and policy, new report states." Politico, January 29, 2019.
• Howard J.Old emails hold new clues to Coca-Cola and CDC's controversial relationship." CNN Health, January 29, 2019.