International Life Sciences Institute

The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) specialises in lobbying national and international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Its membership consists of 400 of 'the world's leading manufacturers of food and food ingredients, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other consumer products'.

These include

• Burger King,
• Cargill,
• Coca-Cola,
• Heinz,
• Hershey,
• Kellogg's,
• Pepsi-Cola,
• Procter & Gamble,
• Red Bull and
• Tate & Lyle.

ILSI's status with WHO Downgraded Following Protests

In late January 2006 the World Health Organization decided that ILSI "can no longer take part in WHO activities setting microbiological or chemical standards for food and water, the U.N. health agency's executive board decided Friday in Geneva, Switzerland." [1] However, it remains one of the NGOs with accreditation as an observer at WHO meetings.

The downgrading of ILSI's status followed a letter protesting ILSI's role in setting standards from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Working Group, United Steelworkers of America and a coalition of other groups.

ILSI publications

ILSI Assembly of members, 2002.

Notes

• John Helperin, "WHO to Rely Less on U.S. Research", Washington Post, January 27, 2006.
• Sarah Boseley 'WHO "infiltrated by food industry"' The Guardian Thursday January 9, 2003
• Sarah Boseley 'Sugar industry threatens to scupper WHO' The Guardian Monday April 21, 2003
• Sarah Boseley 'WHO 'buried' report to please food industry' The Guardian Wednesday November 3, 2004
• Liam McDougall, 'Sugar Wars; Obesity is a global crisis and at its heart is our love of sugary food' Sunday Herald, Feb 29, 2004.