Science and Serendipity: Finding Coca-Cola in China.

Area of Science:

• Medical Anthropology
• Public Health Policy
• Corporate Influence in Science

Background:

• Industry-funded research can shape scientific narratives and public policy.
• The Coca-Cola Company allegedly influenced obesity science in China.
• A disconnect exists between industry-aligned science and independent expert consensus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expose corporate influence on obesity science and policy in China.
• To compare anthropological research methods with traditional medical science.
• To illustrate how anthropological approaches can uncover hidden institutional mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Four years of anthropological research involving extensive fieldwork.
• Analysis of industry-funded scientific initiatives and their impact on policy.
• Comparative reflection on anthropological methods (openness, serendipity, personalism) versus medical science.

Main Results:

• Coca-Cola, via a nonprofit, promoted exercise-centric obesity narratives in China.
• The research faced significant challenges in publication within traditional medical journals.
• Anthropological methods proved effective in uncovering corporate influence and hidden mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Anthropology's subjective and personalistic approach can reveal corporate influence missed by conventional science.
• There's a need for greater dialogue between medical and health sciences and anthropology.
• Understanding the human element in scientific processes can foster better knowledge-making.