Keep in mind that when one group funds studies that show one thing, other
groups can do the same thing.  If ADM and vegetarian groups are funding
some research, don't you think the NRA and the meat producers of the world
will fund studies too?

Almost any scientific study you could possibly read on any subject is
funded by someone with a potential interest in the outcome.  This is why
the process of peer review is so important, and it's also why responsible
researchers make it clear from the outset that they will publish their
findings regardless of what they are before they accept the fundin.  Most
important of all, to maintain integrity and honesty even those who might
put a "spin" on what they say or generalize about the study, generally you
will find more blunt honesty in the fine details of what's published; the
abstract may be vague or emphasize certain points, but if you read the
whole thing you'll usually find the full details.  For example, the AMA
recently funded a study which showed clearly that high-carbohydrate diets
raised the risk of diabetes in women, but also showed that cereal fibre
intake mitigated this risk.  The political "spin" on this was that the
study showed that cereal fibre intake could reduce the risk of diabetes,
but read what it said carefully and it very clearly showed that increased
carbohydrate intake was raising the risk of diabetes indepedent of any
other factor.

You may think a government or non-profit studies would be more objective
but in those cases it's often politics driving the results and they might
even be worse.  The judgement of your superiors and your peers can be
devastating, and careers can be threatened if you seem to wild or go too
much against the grain of orthodox opinion in your field.  This, frankly,
can be more important than any other factor; who funds you becomes a minor
issue compared to politics.

The important thing with most studies is to do your best to look closely at
the study itself and not what is said about the study.

I happen to know a researcher who has funding from hunting groups to study
the health effects of meat-eating.  This is also a very intelligent,
cautious researcher and I have no doubt that his results will be completely
fair and objective and that the study will be worth reading.

 -=-=-

Once in a while you get shown the light/
 In the strangest of places if you look at it right   ---Robert Hunter

http://www.syndicomm.com/esmay