ReviewObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026
Is Meat Industry Affiliation Associated With Study Conclusion in Nutrition Research? A Meta-Research Review.
Review in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
introductionThe meat industry's role in funding and influencing scientific research raises concerns about its impact on evidence used to inform public health policy. Although industry influence on other food and beverage sectors is well-documented, its effects on studies of meat consumption remain understudied.
objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the influence of meat industry involvement on study conclusions of research examining the health impacts of meat consumption.
methodsA meta-research review of relevant studies published between 2014 and 2023 was conducted using PubMed and Scopus. Studies investigating the nutritional health impacts of meat consumption were included. Study characteristics, author affiliations, declared funding sources, declared conflicts of interest, and study conclusions were extracted. Association tests were used to assess the relationship between industry ties and study conclusions.
resultsOf 500 included studies, 78 (15.6%) reported industry involvement. Studies with industry ties were 16 times more likely to report favorable conclusions regarding meat consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 16.4, 95% CI: 7.5-35.8), and there was a significant association (p < 0.001) between industry involvement and study conclusion.
conclusionMeat industry involvement significantly increases the likelihood of favorable study conclusions in nutrition research. These findings underscore the need for caution when interpreting research funded or associated with the meat industry and emphasize the importance of minimizing conflicts of interest in nutrition research.
trial registrationProspero: ID CRD42024526116.
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