Providence, RI (AP) – President Donald Trump’s nominee for US surgeon general has continually asserted that the nation’s health and food systems are tainted by special interests that prioritize profit over American well-being. Yet, Dr. Casey Means has been endorsing several products in a manner that appears financially beneficial for herself, while simultaneously criticizing researchers, medical institutions, and regulators for their financial ties to the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
The Associated Press has unearthed how niches within the wellness industry have been established to accommodate various corporations. In several instances, it was found that she promoted companies where she held investment or advisory roles, often without adequately disclosing these affiliations.
Means claims she personally evaluates and endorses the products she uses. However, experts warn that her financial connections could raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest and her ability to provide Americans with reliable scientific information on health improvement strategies.
Here are some key insights from the AP report.
Expand Your Audience and Market Products
The 37-year-old Means earned her medical degree from Stanford University but left the residency program in 2018, and her medical license is currently inactive. She witnessed firsthand the “broken and exploitative” healthcare systems, prompting her shift to an alternative approach to addressing what she terms a widespread metabolic dysfunction largely caused by malnutrition and highly processed foods.
She co-founded Levels, an app that tracks nutrition, sleep, and exercise, enabling users to gain insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 annually for app subscriptions and $184 monthly for glucose monitors. Experts are still debating the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring for individuals without diabetes; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has advocated for certain weight loss medications to be made available to patients.
With over 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter reportedly reaching 200,000 subscribers, Means possesses direct access to an audience keenly interested in health, nutrition, and wellness.
Numerous companies, including Amazon, offer affiliate marketing programs where social media influencers can register to earn commissions when purchases are made through customized links or codes they provide.
Means utilizes these links to promote a variety of products available on Amazon. Among these are a book she co-authored, “Good Energy,” as well as beauty products, cardamom floss, organic jojoba oil, sunglasses, sleep masks, silk pillows, fitness trackers, protein powders, and supplements.
She also directs her audience to products from other companies, often using “affiliate” or “partner” codes. These products encompass an AI-powered sleep system and meal options from a prepared food service that curates a “Metabolic Health Collection.”
On the “My Favorites” page, which was removed shortly after her nomination by Trump, she noted that certain links were “affiliate links,” indicating that purchases made after clicking them would yield a small percentage in earnings for her.
It remains unclear how much she profits from her affiliate marketing, partnerships, and other arrangements. Daily Harvest did not respond to a request for comment and indicated they were unable to provide information during the review period.
Disclosure of Disputes
Influencers promoting a product in exchange for value are required to disclose these relationships per Federal Trade Commission guidelines. However, many consumers are unaware that a recommendation may yield financial gain for the influencer, according to Christopher Terry, a professor at the University of Minnesota.
The report disclosed some affiliations, such as sponsorship of the newsletter, though the AP noted inconsistencies. For example, the “Recommendations for Clean Personal and Home Care Products” guide linked from her website contains 20 affiliate or partner links, yet lacks disclosures about her potential profit from those sales.
Means indicated her investment in a company offering subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. While the AP found more than 12 instances where she mentioned this company, over half did not disclose her affiliation. Although her website’s summary page includes this information, experts argue it’s insufficient; all material connections must be disclosed whenever she promotes the company.
Representatives from Functional Health did not respond to a request for comment.
Disclosure requirements are seldom enforced by the FTC, but there should be clear communication about connections whether or not they violate legal standards, said Olivier Sylvan, a professor at Fordham Law School and former senior adviser to the FTC chair.
“We want the surgeon general to be a trusted source on issues like tobacco, social media, and what poses risks to public health,” Sylvan stated, adding, “should we be suspicious about the claims related to these products?”
Emerging Ethical Concerns
Past surgeons general have faced scrutiny regarding their financial interests, often required to divest from certain stocks or abstain from discussing topics related to their business ties. Means has yet to undergo a Senate confirmation hearing and has not declared the ethical commitments she will uphold in this position.
Emily Hand, author of “The Influencer Industry: The Exploration of Authenticity on Social Media,” raises further ethical dilemmas as influencer marketing becomes increasingly prevalent.
“This represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of our democracy,” Hand said. “Is this an unstoppable trend we must accept, or should we steer it in a different direction?”
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Swenson reported from New York.
Source: apnews.com