The manipulation of natural elements such as weather is just one facet of a broader system in which corporate interests are protected and prioritized through carefully crafted policies and laws. In the United States, policies are often shaped to benefit large corporations, with laws passed to protect them from legal consequences and ensure their profitability, often at the expense of public health and consumer well-being. This chapter examines how corporations influence government policy, protect their interests through lobbying, and exploit regulatory loopholes, particularly in the food and health industries. Additionally, we explore how corporate practices differ in other countries where stricter regulations protect consumers.

Policies Protecting Corporations: Laws That Favor Profit Over Accountability

Many U.S. corporations, especially those in industries such as food production, pharmaceuticals, and energy, wield significant political power through lobbying and political contributions. Corporate lobbyists work to influence lawmakers, ensuring that regulations and policies benefit their industries, often by weakening consumer protections and shielding companies from lawsuits.

One such law is the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) of 2005, which made it more difficult for consumers to file class action lawsuits against large corporations. Before this law, class actions could be tried in state courts, which tended to be more favorable to consumers. However, under CAFA, most class action lawsuits are now moved to federal courts, where the rules are more favorable to corporations. This shift has made it harder for consumers to hold companies accountable for harmful products or practices.

Another example is the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed in 2005, which grants gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits when their products are used in crimes. While this law applies specifically to firearms, it set a precedent for shielding other industries from liability. Similar protections exist in industries such as pharmaceuticals and energy, where companies are shielded from certain types of litigation if they follow regulatory guidelines, even if those guidelines are insufficient to protect consumers.

Lobbying and Political Influence: Swaying Votes for Corporate Gain

The lobbying industry plays a significant role in shaping legislation to favor corporate interests. According to OpenSecrets.org, industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, and food production spend billions of dollars each year lobbying Congress and federal agencies to pass favorable laws and block regulations that could harm their profitability.

For example, the pharmaceutical industry has long been involved in lobbying efforts to influence healthcare policies. One notable instance was the passage of Medicare Part D in 2003, which included a provision that explicitly prohibits Medicare from negotiating drug prices. This clause has resulted in significantly higher prices for prescription drugs, benefiting pharmaceutical companies but burdening taxpayers and patients.

Another example is the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill. This bill provided billions in subsidies to agricultural corporations, particularly those that produce corn, soybeans, and other commodity crops. These crops are the building blocks of highly processed foods that contribute to the obesity epidemic and chronic disease. While the Farm Bill benefits agribusiness, it does little to support small farmers or promote healthier diets.

Lobbying groups such as the American Beverage Association have also worked to block efforts to regulate sugar-sweetened beverages, which are a major contributor to diabetes and obesity. When cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco tried to pass soda taxes, lobbyists funded aggressive campaigns to defeat these measures. Although some cities succeeded in passing soda taxes, the beverage industry’s lobbying efforts have largely succeeded in preventing widespread regulation of sugary drinks.

Corporate Immunity and Stockholders’ Interests

One of the reasons corporations are so eager to influence policy is to protect the interests of their stockholders. By crafting laws that protect them from liability or regulatory oversight, corporations ensure that their profits—and thus their stock prices—remain high. For example, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries have long been protected from certain types of lawsuits by laws like the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which shields vaccine manufacturers from liability in civil lawsuits related to vaccine side effects.

This corporate shield ensures that profits remain steady, and stockholders benefit, even if the products or services provided by the corporation harm consumers. In industries such as healthcare and food, this dynamic has led to a perverse cycle in which consumers are harmed by the very products they consume, while corporations profit from both the initial harm and the treatments required to address it.

International Comparisons: Stricter Regulations Abroad

While corporations in the United States enjoy considerable freedom when it comes to product ingredients and marketing, many other countries have stricter regulations designed to protect consumers from harmful substances. The differences between U.S. and European food regulations, for example, are striking. Here are 10 examples of common food products that contain different ingredients in the U.S. compared to other countries:

1. Kraft Mac & Cheese
   • U.S.: Contains artificial colors (Yellow 5 and Yellow 6).
   • Europe: Uses natural colorings such as paprika and beta-carotene.
2. Mountain Dew
   • U.S.: Contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a chemical linked to health issues.
   • Europe and Japan: BVO is banned and replaced with safer emulsifiers.
3. Quaker Oats Chewy Granola Bars
   • U.S.: Contains high-fructose corn syrup.
   • Europe: High-fructose corn syrup is either banned or significantly limited.
4. Skittles
   • U.S.: Contains artificial colors like Red 40, linked to hyperactivity in children.
   • Europe: Uses natural colorings from fruits and vegetables.
5. McDonald’s Fries
   • U.S.: Fried in oil containing dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent.
   • U.K.: Uses a simple vegetable oil blend without additives.
6. Ritz Crackers
   • U.S.: Contains partially hydrogenated oils, a source of trans fats.
   • Canada: Trans fats are banned.
7. Gatorade
   • U.S.: Contains artificial coloring, including Yellow 5.
   • Europe: Uses natural colors like turmeric.
8. Frosted Flakes
   • U.S.: Contains BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), a preservative banned in other countries.
   • U.K.: BHT is banned and not used in food products.
9. Wheat Thins
   • U.S.: Contains monoglycerides, which can contain trans fats.
   • Europe: Stricter regulations limit the use of harmful additives.
10. M&M’s
    • U.S.: Contains Red 40 and Yellow 5.
    • Europe: Uses natural colorings like beetroot and paprika.

In these examples, American consumers are exposed to chemicals and additives that have been banned or restricted in other countries due to health concerns. The difference is largely due to stricter consumer protection laws in Europe, where the precautionary principle is more commonly applied. In the U.S., however, corporations are often allowed to use potentially harmful ingredients until they are proven dangerous, a standard that benefits industry over public health.

The Vicious Cycle: Profiting from Poor Health

The food and pharmaceutical industries are two of the most profitable sectors in the U.S. economy, and their success is closely intertwined with the poor health outcomes of the population. This creates a vicious cycle in which corporations profit from making people sick and then profit again from treating the very illnesses they helped cause.

1. Food Industry Profits: Corporations sell highly processed, nutrient-poor foods filled with sugars, unhealthy fats, and additives, contributing to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
2. Pharmaceutical Profits: Once consumers become sick, they require medications to manage their conditions. The pharmaceutical industry profits from drugs to lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, and treat heart disease, among other conditions.
3. Medical Industry Profits: The healthcare system, including hospitals, medical device companies, and insurance providers, also profits from surgeries, treatments, and long-term management of chronic diseases.

In this cycle, the consumer is both the victim and the source of profit, while stockholders, executives, and corporations continue to benefit financially. The longer the cycle persists, the more entrenched these industries become, and the more difficult it is to reform the system. People’s health is increasingly commodified, with every aspect of illness offering another opportunity for profit.

Conclusion: A System Built for Profit, Not Health

The food and pharmaceutical industries, protected by favorable laws and policies, have created a system where profit margins are prioritized over public health. From lobbying efforts that shape legislation to government subsidies that favor unhealthy products, corporations have rigged the system to ensure their continued dominance. Consumers, meanwhile, pay the price with their health, trapped in a cycle of poor nutrition, chronic illness, and dependency on medications.

While other countries impose stricter regulations to protect their citizens from harmful ingredients, the U.S. continues to allow corporations to put profit before people. Addressing this issue will require a complete overhaul of how food is produced, regulated, and marketed, as well as a shift in healthcare from treating symptoms to promoting true wellness and prevention.

References:

• “How the Class Action Fairness Act Hurts Consumers,” Public Citizen.
• Malkan, Stacy, “Behind the Lobbying: How Big Food Influences Policy,” *U.S. Right to