摘要：Previous research on health and life insurers' financial investments has highlighted the tension between profit maximization and the public good. We ascertained health and life insurance firms' holdings in the fast food industry, an industry that is increasingly understood to negatively impact public health. Insurers own $1.88 billion of stock in the 5 leading fast food companies. We argue that insurers ought to be held to a higher standard of corporate responsibility, and we offer potential solutions. Life and health insurance firms profess to support health and wellness, but their choice of financial investments has raised doubts. We recently noted their investments in the tobacco industry, 1 but few data on insurance company investments in other potentially unhealthy products exist. We investigated the insurance industry's investments in fast food. Unlike tobacco, which is inarguably harmful and addictive, fast food can be consumed responsibly. However, most fast food has high energy density and low nutritional value. 2 Indeed, fast food consumption is linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease, 2 leading causes of preventable death. 3 – 5 The industry markets heavily to children and often builds restaurants within walking distance of schools. 6 , 7 Children who live near fast food restaurants consume fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, drink more high-calorie soft drinks, and are more likely to be overweight. 7 , 8 In addition, fast food restaurants are more prevalent in Black and low-income neighborhoods, likely contributing to the burden of obesity among these groups. 9 And, finally, the fast food industry exacts a heavy environmental toll. 2 In 2009 Americans were expected to spend $185 billion on fast food, and consumers globally were expected to spend $481 billion. 10 In addition, there has been a greater than 5-fold increase in fast food consumption by children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years between 1977 and 1995. 7 In response, many municipalities in the United States have moved to control fast food. In 2008 Los Angeles restricted the construction of new fast food restaurants and several other cities have used zoning restrictions to similar effect. In addition, San Francisco and New York have passed laws that require restaurants to visibly post the nutritional content of foods. 11 – 14 Given the potential disconnect between insurers' financial investments and their professed missions, we sought to determine the extent to which insurance companies own stock in the fast food industry.
