American Council on Science and Health – Bias and Credibility

These media sources are slight to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes) to favor conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate ACSH Right-Center Biased based on pro-business support and High for factual reporting due to adhering to the consensus of science on most issues and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) is a controversial nonprofit (501(c)(3) advocacy organization, founded in 1978 by Elizabeth Whelan, Ph.D. It describes itself as a “consumer education consortium” focusing on food, nutrition, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle, the environment, and health, but others have accused it of being biased in favor of industry. The current president is Hank Campbell.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

The ACSH is a nonprofit (501(c)(3) that is primarily funded through donations. They disclaim on the website: “ACSH does not accept government grants or contracts, nor do we have an endowment. We raise our funds each year primarily from individuals and foundations.”

Analysis / Bias

The ACSH is funded by corporations and tends to lean toward deregulation issues. Though not scientifically wrong, they exhibit a bias in favor of businesses.

Some of the products ACSH has defended over the years include DDT, asbestos, and Agent Orange, as well as common pesticides. ACSH has often called environmentalists and consumer activists “terrorists,” arguing that their criticisms and concerns about potential health and environmental risks are threats to society.

ACSH has been funded by big agri-businesses and trade groups like Kellogg, General Mills, Pepsico, and the American Beverage Association, among others.

A factual search reveals that the American Council on Science and Health has not failed a fact check. However, there are numerous instances where ACSH has not aligned with the consensus of science in the past. Over the last few years, they have accepted human-influenced climate change, although they do not favor government action but rather free-market solutions.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate ACSH Right-Center Biased based on pro-business support and High for factual reporting due to adhering to the consensus of science on most issues and a clean fact check record. (8/14/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 02/06/2022)

Source: https://www.acsh.org