Rather than representing any particular interests outside the
health realm, the Board is required by law to be made up of five
medically-qualified members, plus five with advanced healthrelevant
degrees (New York City Charter). Consequently, regulatory
decision-makers belong to the same community of experts
as those who develop the policy proposals and likely hold similar
views.
‘‘Most of us keep abreast of the developments in medicine and
public health, and are well aware of the role that sugary beverages
have played in the obesity epidemic. And we reviewed, as
part of the rule making process, a lot of the background documents,
a lot of the scientific studies.”
[Interviewee 7, Board of Health]