Postura de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutrición sobre la participación de actores comerciales y conflictos de intereses

The purpose of this position update is to describe the main scenarios in which conflicts of interest (COI) arise, as well as guidelines to guide the conduct of SLAN and its members in the context of relationships with commercial entities. The content of this document was defined, reviewed, and approved by the current Conflict of Interest Committee (COI Committee), commissioned by SLAN and comprised of academy members who share the conviction about the need to avoid COI in actions related to nutrition and health. The power and interference of commercial entities in the food system and health policies have increased over time, weakening and obstructing the implementation of actions that promote healthy food environments. One of the strategies through which corporations engaged in the development, marketing, advertising, and promotion of health-damaging food and beverage products operate is by establishing relationships with nutrition societies and organizations to undermine these actions, leading to COI. Through this document, SLAN proposes a series of measures to prevent, transparently manage conflicts of interest, and avoid the interference of commercial entities in nutrition research, education, and policies.