About & Methodology

Independent. Unfunded. Accountable.

People's Health Watch is an independent public health journalism project. It was built by a single researcher and developer with no institutional backing, no grant funding, no pharmaceutical sponsorship, and no advertiser relationships.

We are not a nonprofit. We are not affiliated with any political party, advocacy organization, university, or government body. We have no financial relationship with any of the companies, families, or individuals discussed on this site — including those we criticize and those whose research we cite.

We have no financial interest in any alternative health products, supplements, or competing food brands. We are not selling anything. There are no affiliate links on this site.

Why This Site Exists

The United States spends more on healthcare per capita than any nation on Earth, yet ranks near the bottom of developed countries in life expectancy, chronic disease rates, and preventable deaths. Black Americans die from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer at disproportionately higher rates than white Americans.

These outcomes are not random. They are shaped by decisions made in boardrooms, lobbying offices, and regulatory agencies — decisions that prioritize profit over public health, and that have been documented in court records, congressional testimony, peer-reviewed research, and investigative journalism for decades.

People's Health Watch exists to collect that documentation in one place and present it to the public without charge, without spin, and without the conflicts of interest that compromise most health coverage.

We are specifically focused on the communities most harmed by the food system — low-income communities and communities of color who face the highest exposure to ultra-processed foods, the fewest healthy food options, and the least political power to change the system.

How We Research and Source Claims

Every factual claim on this site follows a sourcing hierarchy. We do not publish claims based solely on advocacy group assertions, social media, or secondary reporting without tracing the claim to a primary source.

Source Hierarchy (in order of preference)

• 01
  Primary Government DocumentsSEC DEF 14A proxy filings for CEO compensation. FDA Federal Register entries for ingredient approvals and revocations. USDA Farm Bill records. Congressional testimony transcripts. DOJ criminal conviction records.
• 02
  Peer-Reviewed ResearchPubMed/NIH studies, WHO/IARC classification reports, CDC surveillance data. We note when studies are preliminary, animal-only, or have not been replicated in humans.
• 03
  Established Investigative JournalismProPublica, The Guardian, US Right to Know, Civil Eats, The Intercept, and similar outlets with documented editorial standards and correction policies.
• 04
  Court Documents and Legal RecordsPurdue Pharma bankruptcy filings. DOJ antitrust convictions. New York State consumer fraud judgments. Cited with case names and dates.
• 05
  Industry Documents (when available)Internal documents released through litigation or FOIA. Always noted as such with original source identified.

What We Do Not Do

We do not publish claims that cannot be traced to a primary or Tier 3 source. We do not present association as causation without noting the distinction. We do not republish conspiracy theories or unverified claims, even when they are widely circulated in communities we are trying to serve.

Primary Sources Used

The following table lists the primary source categories for each section of the site. Full inline citations appear on each page.

The Offenders Page — CEO Compensation

GRAS Loophole Page — Ingredient Safety

The Families Page — Ownership & Lobbying

Country Health Comparisons

What We Acknowledge As Contested

Responsible journalism requires acknowledging where evidence is strong, where it is emerging, and where scientific debate continues.

Strong Evidence (consensus or regulatory action taken)

The following claims on this site are supported by regulatory action, WHO classification, or multiple independent replicated studies: trans fats cause heart disease; sodium nitrite in processed meats is a Group 1 carcinogen; BVO was declared unsafe by the FDA itself; Red Dye No. 3 was banned after thyroid tumor links; HFCS consumption increased 1,000% during the obesity epidemic.

Emerging Evidence (significant research, not yet consensus)

Aspartame's Group 2B classification means "possibly carcinogenic" — the same category as coffee and aloe vera extract. It does not mean it definitively causes cancer at normal consumption levels. We report the WHO classification accurately and do not overstate it. Carrageenan's gut inflammation links come primarily from animal and cell studies; human evidence is limited.

Structural Arguments (documented pattern, not proven intent)

We do not claim the families documented on the Families page conspired together or deliberately planned to harm the public. We document what is in the public record: their lobbying expenditures, their political donations, their regulatory influence, and their financial relationships. Readers can draw their own conclusions. We present the documented pattern; we do not assert motive.

What We Will Correct

If any claim on this site is factually incorrect, we will correct it with a visible notation. If you have a primary source that contradicts a specific claim, contact us. We take accuracy seriously — it is the only thing that makes this site worth reading.

What This Site Is Not

• —
  Not Medical AdviceNothing on this site should be interpreted as medical advice, dietary guidance, or treatment recommendations. If you have a health condition, speak with a licensed healthcare provider. Do not change medications or treatment protocols based on content from this site.
• —
  Not Anti-ScienceThis site is pro-science. We cite peer-reviewed research, WHO classifications, and FDA regulatory records — the same institutions we critique when they are captured by industry interests. The argument is not that science is wrong. The argument is that corporate money corrupts the application of science.
• —
  Not a Conspiracy SiteWe do not publish claims about secret coordinated plots, shadowy organizations, or events without documented evidence. Every connection we draw between companies, families, and regulatory outcomes is sourced to public records. If it's not in a court document, SEC filing, peer-reviewed study, or established investigative report — it's not on this site.
• —
  Not Affiliated With Any Political MovementThe documented failure of the food regulatory system spans Republican and Democratic administrations. The Fanjul family funded both Trump and Clinton. Koch Industries lobbied both parties. ADM had access to Nixon, Carter, and Reagan. This is a systemic critique, not a partisan one.

Reach Us

We welcome corrections, additional sourcing, tips, and press inquiries. If you are a journalist working on a related story, we are happy to share our full source documentation.

If you work for or represent any of the companies or families discussed on this site and believe a specific factual claim is incorrect, contact us with your primary source. We will review it and issue a correction if warranted.