What’s on my berries?! How industry shapes chemical approvals & health star ratings

In this episode we speak with Dr Nick Chartres, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and co-lead of the Center in Corporate Harm. Nick explains how corporate interests and industry-sponsored research influence government regulators and distort public health policy.

We discuss the key regulatory flaws in Australia, including the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority's (APVMA) decision on Paraquat, a herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease that is banned in 70 countries, and proposed increases to insecticide residue limits on berries. Dr Chartres exposes the systemic biases in relying on unpublished industry safety data, outdated uncertainty factors, and non-transparent "weight of evidence" evaluations. We then turn our attention to Australia's Health Star Rating system, detailing how food industry involvement created an algorithm that rewards ultra-processed foods while ignoring harmful cosmetic additives. And last but not least, practical steps individuals can take at home while advocating for systemic political reform.