Beware of industry web sites and bloggers trying to disguise themselves as concerned individuals!

"Common sense is not so common."
-Voltaire

We've all seen the annoying infomericals that pop up when we google. How to loss 20 lbs and still eat everything you want. However, a much more tainted and covert propaganda that is especially pervasive in the blogging community is the establishment of industry funded websites and bloggers that try and pass themselves off as concerned individuals. These "so called individuals" post comments and direct the reader to a specific website that contains "expert" research and opinions that not surprisingly sell the wonders of their products. Two recent blog imposter's directed readers to: http://www.milkismilk.com/ and http://www.sweetsurprise.com/

The good news is if industry is doing this...they are on the defensive. Most consumers I know are feed up with the misinformation, misguidance, food pyramid nonsense that we and our families are inundated with on a daily basis while we and our children get sicker and sicker. Keep up the enlightenment all you bloggers and posters! It's easy to see through the industry veil and find the imposter's.

For the record, I have no problem with an individual "monetizing" their blog to sell products. I am a capitalist at heart (majored in economics in college and am a HUGE fan of Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations) but this is much more subtle and pervasive. These websites/blogs are industry people actively participating in a public relations campaign to "get their message out there." Blogging is our opportunity to get our message out there! Several friends and family know first hand of the koolaid drinking that goes on within industry and their experts. So, just keep your senses up when surfing the web and use common sense when viewing a comment, website or blog:

-Who are these experts? Are they paid by the sponsor of the web page for their "expert" opinion? (Doesn't hurt to google the name and check out who their peers are, where they publish and who funds their research, i.e. industry, academic - both?) Although they may hold many degrees don't forget to ask yourself who signs their pay check?
-Is this truly an individual or a corporation or industry association?
-What products are they selling and why?
-Do "they" really have my health in their best interest or are they just selling me their products?

Happy surfing!

p.s. YIKES! Just looked up dairy and breast cancer on webmd and an advertisement for cow's milk came up complete with a celebrity wearing the ridiculous moustache! The above button was handed out at our May elementary school picnic that focuses on health and fitness. I (of course) added the red line...