She was fired after not endorsing Splenda-filled salads to people with diabetes. Why? | Neil Barsky

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses a lawsuit filed by Elizabeth Hanna, a registered dietitian nutritionist, against the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The lawsuit alleges that the ADA pressured Hanna to endorse recipes containing artificial sweeteners like Splenda, which she believed were unhealthy and contradictory to the ADA's mission. The article also examines the ADA's relationship with corporate sponsors, such as Splenda, and the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from these partnerships.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Lawsuit

1. What are the key allegations made by Elizabeth Hanna in her lawsuit against the ADA?

• Hanna alleges that the ADA, particularly the VP of operations for the science and healthcare division, pressured her to endorse recipes containing artificial sweeteners like Splenda, which she believed were unhealthy and contradictory to the ADA's mission.
• Hanna refused to endorse these recipes and complained internally, after which she was fired in what she believes was an act of retaliation and silencing.
• The lawsuit also alleges that a higher-up at the ADA fraudulently altered, modified, or destroyed a performance review to support Hanna's termination.

2. What is the background of Elizabeth Hanna and her qualifications?

• Hanna is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist with 16 years of experience in the field of medical nutrition therapy.

3. What is the ADA's response to the allegations made in Hanna's lawsuit?

• The ADA denies the allegations made in Hanna's lawsuit.

[02] The ADA's Relationship with Corporate Sponsors

1. What is the nature of the ADA's relationship with corporate sponsors, particularly Splenda?

• The article suggests that the ADA's relationship with corporate sponsors, such as Splenda, may be more focused on financial interests than the well-being of people with diabetes.
• Splenda, a major artificial sweetener brand, donated more than $1 million to the ADA in 2022.
• The article alleges that the ADA approved and endorsed Splenda-based recipes, even though they were contrary to well-established scientific principles.

2. What are the concerns raised about the ADA's endorsement of recipes containing artificial sweeteners?

• The article cites research suggesting that artificial sweeteners like Splenda may have negative effects on gut health and glucose intolerance, which could potentially worsen diabetes.
• The ADA's own guidelines reportedly banned the approval of recipes that used non-nutritive sweeteners on whole foods, but the organization allegedly pressured Hanna to endorse such recipes.

3. How does the article characterize the ADA's relationship with the food and pharmaceutical industries?

• The article suggests that the ADA may be more beholden to its corporate benefactors than to the 127 million Americans with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
• It cites criticisms from online diabetes forums, where the ADA is accused of existing "in service of physicians and sponsors, not patients" and being "in the business of selling pharmaceutical and nutritional products."

[03] The ADA's Nutritional Advice and Partnerships

1. What concerns are raised about the ADA's nutritional advice and partnerships?

• The article highlights the ADA's partnership with the Idaho Potato Commission, which made Idaho potatoes the first vegetable to be included in the ADA's "Better Choices For Life" program.
• Some clinicians argue that this is poor nutritional advice, as potatoes are a starch and can worsen diabetes, which is an intolerance to sugar.
• The article suggests that the ADA's nutritional advice may be influenced by its corporate partnerships and sponsorships, rather than being based solely on scientific evidence.

2. What is the historical context of the ADA's relationship with the food industry?

• The article cites a 2006 New York Times investigation that revealed the ADA's entanglement with pharmaceutical and food companies, including a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Cadbury Schweppes, the world's largest confectioner.
• At the time, the ADA's chief scientific and medical officer claimed there was "not a shred of evidence that sugar, per se, has anything to do with diabetes," which the article describes as a "startling" comment.

3. How does the article characterize the broader context of dietary and health issues in the United States?

• The article notes that the United States has some of the best medical research institutions in the world, but the dietary and medicinal guidance from doctors and the ADA can be "worse than the condition" for people with diabetes.
• It describes the global diabetes and obesity epidemics as a "slow-motion disaster" that led to the deaths of 2 million people in 2019.
• The article suggests that the ADA's nutritional advice may be contributing to these issues, rather than helping to address them.