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Jane Levine, EdD, Joan Dye Gussow, EdD, Diane Hastings, EdD and Amy Eccher, MS

Jane Levine is with Kids Can Make A Difference, Kittery Point, Me. Joan Dye Gussow is with the Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY. Diane Hastings is an independent nutrition consultant in Potomac, Md. Amy Eccher is an independent statistical consultant in Aurora, Ill.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Jane Levine, EdD, Kids Can Make A Difference, PO Box 54, Kittery Point, ME 03905 (e-mail: jane.levine{at}attbi.com).

Objectives. This study examined the association between authors’ published positions on the safety and efficacy in assisting with weight loss of the Procter & Gamble (P&G) fat substitute olestra and their financial relationships with the food and beverage industry.

Methods. Journal articles about olestra, and their authors, were classified as supportive, critical, or neutral with respect to its use. Authors not known to have industry affiliations were surveyed about their financial relationships.

Results. Supportive authors were significantly more likely than critical or neutral authors to have financial relationships with P&G (80% vs 11% and 21%, respectively; P < .0001). All authors disclosing an affiliation with P&G were supportive.

Conclusions. Because authors’ published opinions were associated with their financial relationships, obtaining noncommercial funding may be more essential to maintaining objectivity than disclosing personal financial interests.

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