“The debate remains open
“Most people have nothing to worry about”.
“Continue to eat meat for good health”.
“You don’t have to reduce your consumption to be green”.
Producing doubt is one of the communication maneuvers revealed by this study. It is a “ cognitive strategy ” deciphered by sociologists Joan Cortinas Muñoz and Daniel Benamouzig in “Des lobbys au menu: les entreprises agro-alimentaires contre la santé publique” (Raisons d’agir, 2022).
While there is a dimension of uncertainty and certain biases in any production of knowledge, the lobbies’ approach seeks to undermine scientific consensus. “By generating controversy and confusion, they prevent informed public debate and paralyze political decisions to the detriment of the public interest.”
