The Examination

Big Tobacco portrays its anti-smuggling efforts as beneficial to public health. New research suggests otherwise. We spoke to the authors who analyzed a trove of internal documents from British American Tobacco to learn more. ⤵️

British American Tobacco went after competitors’ black market sales of cigarettes while seemingly turning a blind eye to the smuggling of its own products when that benefited its bottom line, according to researchers who analyzed leaked company records.

91% of studies disputing the definition of ultraprocessed foods had authors with food industry ties — and most of those relationships weren’t disclosed. “This comes directly from the tobacco playbook,” said nutrition expert Lindsay Smith Taillie.

Recent papers challenging how ultraprocessed foods are defined share a striking pattern, according to a new study: 9 in 10 had at least one author with financial ties to the food industry.

Oil companies say they’re cleaning up one of their dirtiest practices. But our investigation with @bloomberg.com shows the global effort to tackle gas flaring is so riddled with loopholes that companies can claim success even as their flames keep burning.

Exxon, Total, Occidental and Diamondback tout efforts to end routine flaring, but their flames continue to burn around the world, a joint investigation by The Examination and Bloomberg News has found. Read more: examination.news/3VSWZHk

The oil industry promised to slash one of its dirtiest practices — burning off excess gas. Satellite images show flares are still going strong worldwide. Read the investigation with @theexamination.org

Oil giants pledged to end routine flaring — burning off unwanted gas — by 2030. But satellites show they’re still flaring, and the World Bank said they could keep doing so if stopping wasn't profitable. Our investigation with Bloomberg News ⤵️

PAHO, Latin America’s largest health agency, urged limits on ultra-processed foods — then partnered with candy giant Ferrero on vaccines. After outcry, the deal quietly vanished. Can public health agencies take money from the food industry without compromising integrity?

PAHO announced a partnership this January with Ferrero, a candy giant with a track record of lobbying and suing to block nutrition policies It then quietly backed out after objections about conflict of interest... and really doesn't want to talk about what happened New from @theexamination.org

Months after PAHO announced a vaccination deal with candy conglomerate Ferrero Group, the partnership died and its press release was deleted. The quiet collapse speaks to an ongoing debate over corporate funding in global health governance.

Of the 175,000 comments sent to the FDA about a menthol cigarette ban, 97% were opposition form letters, a new study found. The Biden administration cited that “immense” feedback in shelving it.

The Biden administration cited “immense” public comments when it tabled a ban on menthol cigarettes. Turns out those comments were mostly letters echoing tobacco industry talking points, according to a new study.

Officials in Ogijo, Nigeria, have begun removing lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around battery recycling factories. It’s the latest response to our investigation, which found lead poisoning linked to factories that supplied the U.S. auto industry.

Trucks have begun removing lead-contaminated soil around Ogijo, Nigeria, after an investigation by The Examination and its partners revealed that battery recycling plants, which had supplied the U.S. auto industry, had poisoned residents.

Cereal may seem like a natural breakfast choice, but that’s the result of rigorous marketing. Food policy expert Marion Nestle, co-author of “Sugar Coated,” explains how the industry made us believe a spoonful of sugar was a healthy meal.

Cereal anchors morning routines for millions thanks to a targeted push by a multibillion-dollar industry. We spoke with @marionnestle.bsky.social about her new book “Sugar Coated,” which details the legal fights and misleading health claims behind a breakfast staple.

As the EU considers raising cigarette taxes for the first time in 15 years, its member countries are debating how to tax new products like nicotine pouches. Sweden — a top manufacturer for pouches — has stood in the way.

Sweden’s finance minister recently shut down EU tobacco tax discussions in protest over a proposed tax on nicotine pouches, which have become synonymous with the country’s economic and cultural pride. Can the 27 member states reach a compromise?

Philip Morris International’s undisclosed lobbying meetings with EU staff are now under scrutiny as the European ombudsman investigates. The company pushed the EU Commission to do its bidding for its tobacco products in 10 countries outside the bloc.

The EU’s watchdog is investigating undisclosed meetings between EU staff and the tobacco industry. The move comes after The Examination revealed Philip Morris International pushed EU officials to intervene in other countries’ tobacco control policies.

From the U.K. to India to Quebec, health authorities are taking notice of growing evidence about the health risks of energy drinks. Experts say a battle with the beverage industry is looming.

Health officials around the world are stepping up oversight of energy drinks, especially protections for young people. But the beverage industry has beaten similar proposals before. Will this time be different?

Energy drinks are everywhere, but what does the science say about their risks? We reviewed dozens of studies looking at the impact of energy drinks on heart health, anxiety and more.

Energy drinks are everywhere, but concerns about their safety have persisted for years. We reviewed dozens of studies examining links to heart problems, anxiety and more. Here’s what we found ⬇️

Did the Trump admin put out a Zyn ad? That’s what people are asking after the White House posted a viral TikTok video implying the U.S. military runs on Zyn. With teen use of nicotine pouches on the rise, here’s why the video is concerning ⬇️

@redbull.com spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than a decade to fund studies disputing the risks of mixing energy drinks with alcohol — including research that has been used to stymie regulation, our latest investigation found.

For over a decade, @redbull.com funded studies that disputed the risks of consuming energy drinks and alcohol together — and research tied to the company has been used to roll back public health regulations in Canada and elsewhere. Read our latest investigation:

Venezuela was already struggling with food insecurity. Then came the earthquakes. Reporter Ana Vanessa Herrero captures how civilians are feeding and rescuing each other as the devastation in La Guaira threatens a new humanitarian crisis.

A year after we contacted the @fda.gov during the 2025 DOGE cuts, a whistleblower approached us, alleging failings during the greenlighting of Zyn nicotine pouches. Here’s how the investigation came together:

A former @fda.gov toxicologist said the agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches for sale without knowing what they're made of — and that the pouches could shed microplastics, potentially harming users. Our investigation, copublished with @statnews.com

“Fundamentally, we did not do a proper assessment” Former FDA scientist says the agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches without knowing what was in them - which could include microplastics New from @mattchapman.bsky.social Kathryn Kranhold @theexamination.org

In “Landman,” workers run from a dangerous gas called hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This is a real problem in Texas. Our 2024 investigation with @houstonchronicle.com found roughly 78k residents near wells associated with high levels of H2S. Some say it’s still a problem. www.youtube.com/shorts/REaHT...

From banks to hospitals, American Chambers of Commerce are an ally for many international businesses — including Big Tobacco. Here’s how much they do to help cigarette-makers succeed overseas. ⬇️

🚬 🇺🇸 From Bulgaria to Ukraine, local affiliates of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoted the interests of the world’s largest cigarette-makers. Read more: examination.news/4ggJ1aG