Scientists Funded By Sugar Industry Claim “Diet Soda Healthier Than Water”

A new ‘scientific study’ claims that diet soda’s are healthier to drink than water. 

The scientists who conducted the study were found to have been funded directly from the sugar industry, or were employed by sugar manufacturers, and outrageously claimed that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame were better for humans than water.

Wddty.com reports:

The researchers based their findings on a survey of previously-published papers, many of which were tests on laboratory rats.

But of the 5,500 papers that were initially reviewed, just one or two—involving 500 people—suggested that diet drinks were better than water, and there was conflicting evidence even for this.

And yet this was the “take home” message from the study, said lead researcher Prof Peter Rogers from Bristol University, who has had funding from the UK’s Sugar Nutrition, which is supported by the sugar industry.

In all, six of the 11 researchers had an association with the sugar industry, including two who were directly employed by sugar manufacturers.

(Source: International Journal of Obesity, 2015; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.177)