Buzz
Have you ever wondered why chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is often perceived as a health food? While it’s commonly linked to heart health and other benefits, deep down, you know it’s not a true health food. Yet, headlines keep suggesting otherwise.
A detailed report by Vox sheds light on this phenomenon, tracing it back to decades of research funded by Mars. (Nestlé and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association of America have also contributed significantly.)
Even when the science is accurate, the way research is funded can create a misleading narrative. Here’s how this happens:
When more funding is allocated to chocolate studies compared to other research areas, it naturally attracts more scientists to focus on chocolate.
Even without directly influencing results, companies can selectively fund researchers whose past findings favor chocolate.
They can prioritize funding for studies that explore the benefits of chocolate while neglecting research into potential harms.
And, of course, they ensure widespread publicity when favorable studies are published.
This issue isn’t exclusive to chocolate. For instance, studies highlighting the health benefits of cranberries are often funded by Ocean Spray, while research on eggs is typically backed by the American Egg Board. The pattern is clear. On the flip side, who’s funding studies on how this narrow focus harms public understanding of nutrition? Almost no one.
The majority of these studies aren’t revolutionary or particularly practical. For example, “chocolate” studies usually involve giving participants or mice a cocoa bean supplement—something you wouldn’t consume for enjoyment. As the Vox report highlights, a heart-healthy dose of flavanols would require consuming 2.5 pounds of milk chocolate. Even with dark chocolate, which is more concentrated, you’d need a 750-calorie serving—hardly a feasible addition to a daily healthy diet.
