Interview with Public Health Advocate Nick Freudenberg

Meet Nick Freudenberg, a Distinguished Professor at Hunter College and the City University of New York School of Public Health, and a tireless public health advocate who has worked for more than 30 years with community groups, schools and public agencies to create and evaluate programs and policies that promote health and reduce health inequalities.

Dr. Freudenberg is  faculty co-director of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College. I was able to do an email interview with Nick about his new book, LETHAL BUT LEGAL: Corporations, Consumption, and Protecting Public Health. Here are my questions and his responses.

What compels you to create awareness of how corporations negatively affect public health?

NF: Today the gap between the health that is possible for the United States and the world, based on our scientific knowledge and our wealth, and the growing burden of premature death and preventable illness and injuries, has never been greater.  In the past, people died early because we lacked the evidence or resources to improve health. Now, big corporations in the food, tobacco, alcohol and other industries use their knowledge and power to promote profit at the expense of public health.   As a public health professional and researcher, that troubles me, so I want to help find a better path.  Read more…