Colleagues and students at Harvard University have been left scratching their heads after environmental law professor, Betty Boop, was awarded a prestigious research grant despite sitting on the board of pizza chain, Pepperoni’s.
Boop, the founding director of Harvard’s “Snacks for Sustainability” program and a former advisor to the Obama administration, is a paid board member of Pepperoni’s, a fast food chain that has been notorious for its use of processed meats and contribution to the growing problem of obesity in America.
Pepperoni’s latest offering, the “Heart Attack Special” – a pizza with extra cheese, double pepperoni, and bacon – has been dubbed “a ticking time bomb” by health experts.
Despite her conflicting interest, Boop has been given the green light to investigate the environmental impact of fast food chains and their contribution to climate change. Her research will also focus on the use of biodegradable napkins and its effectiveness in reducing waste.
This move has left her colleagues and students baffled, with many questioning how someone with such close ties to the fast food industry has been given such an important role in the fight against climate change.
“Does she not see the irony in this situation?” questioned one colleague. “It’s like putting a fox in charge of a chicken coop.”
In response to the backlash, Boop issued a statement defending her position on the board of Pepperoni’s, stating that it was important to have a seat at the table in order to make positive changes from within.
When asked about the possibility of any bias in her research, Boop responded by saying, “I’m pretty sure I can be impartial. I mean, I only eat pizza like, once a week.”
As for Pepperoni’s, they have continued to defend their position in the fast food industry, stating that they are committed to “providing delicious, affordable food to the masses” and that they are “actively investigating ways to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Only time will tell if Boop’s research will lead to any significant change in the fast food industry, or if her ties to Pepperoni’s will overshadow her findings.
