• Kevin Hall, Ph.D, a senior NIH researcher involved in food and metabolism research, including the effects of ultra-processed foods (UPF), resigned earlier this month, alleging that he had experienced censorship regarding his recent research which he said “did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction.” He stated that while he had hoped to expand his research on the connection between food and chronic disease, recent events had made him “question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science.”
  • In 2019 Dr. Hall had authored a paper which linked consumption of UPF to greater energy consumption and weight gain. However, a paper he recently published suggested that UPF are not addictive, at least not in the way that many drugs are addictive (the study found that dopamine response to a UPF milkshake was not significant, highly variable, and not related to adiposity).
  • He also alleged to CBS News that the administration had prevented him from discussing his research, had edited written answers to the media, and had threatened to remove him as an author to the paper if he did not comply with their demands. The administration has denied these accusations.