Sugar industry bribing influencers

The FTC sent warning letters to two trade groups and more than a dozen influencers — including 12 registered dieticians — who made posts on Instagram and TikTok promoting the artificial sweetener aspartame as well as sugar-containing products

After WHO warned of aspartame health risks, a coordinated campaign by trade group American Beverage resulted in at least 35 paid social media posts from health professionals

The Canadian Sugar Institute, a trade group funded by the sugar industry, also paid registered dieticians to promote junk foods like ice cream, peanut butter cups, doughnuts and cookies 

The FTC letters that were sent to the American Beverage Association and the Canadian Sugar Institute warn that the trade groups may have violated the FTC Act because they didn’t adequately disclose that the influencers’ posts were actually paid promotions

Civil penalties of up to $50,120 per violation could be imposed for any future failures to disclose “unexpected material connections, ” according to the FTC 

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