RFK hearing

[Newbeeee™]

On from SHB post....

Food:-
Q - How much has the top level food industry consolidated since year 2000 - specifically how much market share did the top 5 producers own then, and how much do they own now?

A  -
Packaged Foods & Consumer Brands
In 2000, the food & beverage sector was already starting consolidating with massive deals (e.g., Unilever–Best Foods, Philip Morris–Nabisco, Nestlé–Purina) but was significantly less concentrated than it is today.
The top 10 global packaged food companies at the time—including Nestlé, Kraft Foods, Unilever, PepsiCo, Mars, Danone, Cadbury, Kellogg, General Mills, and Ferrero—collectively held just 15.2% of global packaged food sales
None of these companies individually commanded more than 3.3% of the total global market

By 2023, the top 5 players (Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Unilever) drive over 35% of global packaged food sales with combined profits in the $50–60 billion range; Nestlé alone posted ~$13 billion in 2023

Beef packing (U.S.)
In 2000, the top 4 meat packers controlled roughly 60% of slaughter. Today, that control has surged to 85%

Grain Trading
Globally, five giants—ADM, Bunge, Cofco, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus ("ABCCD")—now control between 70% and 90% of commercial grain trading

Comment - So the "shit in a box" market had already been captured long ago...."they're" now coming for grain and beef....

[Newbeeee™]

and....

Water:-
Q - How much has the top level water industry (talking bottled supply) consolidated since year 2000 - specifically how much market share did the top 5 producers own then, and how much do they own now?

A -
Early 2000s (U.S.): Consolidation was already high — ~60% of the market was controlled by the top 3–5 firms.

Today: Consolidation has intensified globally — the top 5 now likely control half or more of all bottled water sales worldwide.

Big players: Nestlé dominates (~1/5 global market), Danone another ~1/6, plus major shares for Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo. Even regional giants like Nongfu or Primo/BlueTriton push the top-5 global share beyond 50%.

[Newbeeee™]

and....
pHarma

Q - How much has the top level pharma industry consolidated since year 2000 - specifically how much market share did the top 5 producers own then, and how much do they own now?

A:-

Year 2000 – Top 5 Pharma Producers
Exact global market-share data from 2000 is sparse. However, historical context offers guidance:

In 1995, the top five pharma companies by revenue were:
Novartis – $9.7 B
Glaxo Wellcome – $9.6 B
Hoechst – $7.8 B
Merck (MSD) – $7.7 B
Bristol-Myers Squibb – $6.8 B

That totaled $41.6 billion in revenue. At that time, the global pharmaceutical market was about $300–350 billion annually, so the top five likely commanded around 12–14% of the total market.

In 2000, major consolidations occurred:

Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham, creating GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which became the largest pharma entity

Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert (~$112 B deal), boosting its scale

Combining these dynamics and revenue estimates suggests the top five in 2000 held roughly 15–18% of global prescription-market share.

Year 2024–25 – Top 5 Pharma Producers
Recent data provides a clearer picture. In 2017, the top five prescription-drug companies and their global market shares were:

Pfizer – 5.8%
Novartis – 5.3%
Roche – 5.3%
Merck & Co – 4.5%
Johnson & Johnson – 4.4%
Total (Top 5) ≈ 25.3%

Consolidation Summary (LOOKY HOW THEY'VE GROWN THE MARKET!!!!)
Year    Est. Global Market Size      Top 5 Revenue (USD)      Top 5 Share %
2000    ~$300 B                            ~$40–50 B                  ~15–18%
2024    ~$1.6 T                            ~19.9%                          ~19–20%

[Newbeeee™]

and....

Ownership
Q - Now take the top 5 food, water and pharma companies listed above. List the major shareholders since 2000 and who they are now.

A -
Company        Vanguard (2000 → 2025)    BlackRock (2000 → 2025)    State Street (2000 → 2025)
Nestlé            <1% → ~3%                              <1% → ~5%                              — → <3%
Coca‑Cola    ~5–8% → 8.6%                      ~5–8% → 7.3%                      ~5–8% → ~3.9%
PepsiCo            ~5–8% → ~9–10%                      ~5–8% → ~7.9%                      ~5–8% → ~4–4.2%
Danone            <1% → ~4%                              <1% → ~5–6%                      — → <2%

Company      Vanguard (2000 → 2025)    BlackRock (2000 → 2025)    State Street (2000 → 2025)
Pfizer          ~7–8% → 9.2%                    ~5–6% → 8.3%                    ~4–5% → 5.2%
Novartis          <1% → 3.3%                            <1% → 7.1%                            — (present)
Roche          <1% → ~3%                            <1% → ~4%                            — → ~2–3%
Merck          ~4–8% → ~6–?%                    ~4–8% → ~6–?%                    ~4–8% → ~5–?%
J&J                  ~5–8% → 9.7%                    ~5–8% → 8.3%                    ~5–8% → 5.6%


Food & Water – Key Takeaways
Significant Growth of Asset Managers Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street have all markedly increased their ownership stakes since 2000,

PepsiCo & Coca-Cola Lead the Charge
These companies show the largest increases in institutional ownership among the group, with Vanguard now owning around 9–10% of PepsiCo and about 8.6% of Coca-Cola, BlackRock holding ~7–8%, and State Street 3.9–4.2%.

Nestlé & Danone Follow Similar Trends
While starting from smaller bases, these two giants also saw asset managers increase stakes to approximately 3–5% for Vanguard and BlackRock.

Shift from Diverse Institutional Owners to Concentrated Passive Ownership
Around 2000, holdings were more spread across custodians and a wide variety of institutions. Now, these top three asset managers dominate, reflecting the rise of passive index investing.

Potential Influence on Governance
The rise in concentration means these few players hold substantial voting power, shaping corporate governance and strategic decisions across the sector.


Pharmaceutical – Key Takeaways
Dominance of Big Three Asset Managers Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street consistently remain the top shareholders across the major pharma companies, holding significant stakes—often between 5% and 10% each.

Increase in Ownership Stakes Since 2000
Vanguard and BlackRock have notably increased their holdings in companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, moving from roughly 5–8% stakes in 2000 to around 8–10% today.

Roche is the Outlier with Family Control
Unlike peers, Roche remains majority-controlled by the founding Hoffmann family (~65%), with institutions (including the big three asset managers) owning smaller stakes (around 2–4% each).

Concentration of Ownership Across Pharma
Many institutional shareholders previously fragmented or dispersed are now largely concentrated in the hands of a few global asset managers, creating a high degree of common ownership.

Potential Impact on Market Dynamics and Governance
This concentrated ownership structure can affect competitive dynamics, innovation incentives, and governance practices within the pharmaceutical industry, given the significant voting influence these asset managers hold.

[Newbeeee™]

We know the MSM has dramatically consolidated too.
Where the fook has the competitions overseers been? (rhetorical).

All. By. Design.
#ChangeMyMind....

[neurosis]

If this were any other administration, this wouldn't be believable. 


RFK Jr. sued for neglecting task force mandate by anti-vaccine group he founded

https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/rfk-jr-sued-over-a-task-force-by-the-anti-vaccine-group-he-founded


"WASHINGTON (TNND) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is being sued by a nonprofit anti-vaccine organization that he founded.

The Children's Health Defense (CHD) asserted in its lawsuit that Kennedy is ignoring federal law due to his failure to establish a task force focused on the safety of childhood vaccines.

"Our first priority will ALWAYS be children's health. Sec. Kennedy has FAILED 'to establish a task force dedicated to making childhood vaccines safer, as mandated by federal law,' so we WILL be holding him accountable," Children's Health Defense (CHD) posted on the social platform X."

"This is not the Bobby we know," Flores said. "Is he being held captive in the swamp, and it kind of feels that way sometimes."

Ultimately, Flores suggested that the lawsuit is the CHD's way of "helping" Kennedy "to have an excuse to his job."

[beej]

If this were any other administration, this wouldn't be believable. 


RFK Jr. sued for neglecting task force mandate by anti-vaccine group he founded

https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/rfk-jr-sued-over-a-task-force-by-the-anti-vaccine-group-he-founded


"WASHINGTON (TNND) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is being sued by a nonprofit anti-vaccine organization that he founded.

The Children's Health Defense (CHD) asserted in its lawsuit that Kennedy is ignoring federal law due to his failure to establish a task force focused on the safety of childhood vaccines.

"Our first priority will ALWAYS be children's health. Sec. Kennedy has FAILED 'to establish a task force dedicated to making childhood vaccines safer, as mandated by federal law,' so we WILL be holding him accountable," Children's Health Defense (CHD) posted on the social platform X."

I guess, I don't see why this is so unbelievable. Is it because he's not as radical as they want him to be?

If that's the case you only have to look at university students protesting against the people who are teaching them to be activists to see how easy it is for that to happen.

[neurosis]

I guess, I don't see why this is so unbelievable.

The fact that an anti-vax group is suing the HHS isn't unbelievable.

It's that the head of the HHS founded the anti-vax group that he's being sued by. 

We're in upside down world? 

[beej]

The fact that an anti-vax group is suing the HHS isn't unbelievable.

It's that the head of the HHS founded the anti-vax group that he's being sued by. 

We're in upside down world? 

I've been saying that for years.

And just like the universities that have created a bunch of little leftist tyrants who are now being protested against, by people who are little more than "terrible-two, tantrum throwing, toddlers" by taking over dormitories and marching with flags from a country that believes exactly the opposite of what they believe, some of these activists are simply reaping the seeds that they themselves have sown. Left and right! it's everywhere. I don't for the life of me understand why people only see one side of this.

[neurosis]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this. Since some of the topics covered are things that RFK has pushed over the years, it fits here?

I don't know if anyone would have the patience to sit through this. 

[CADCAM396]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this. Since some of the topics covered are things that RFK has pushed over the years, it fits here?

I don't know if anyone would have the patience to sit through this. 

Nope last thing I need is more mud slinging.

[Newbeeee™]

Debunk da Funk got myocarditis so stopped taking boosters.
Didn't he?

[neurosis]

Debunk da Funk got myocarditis so stopped taking boosters.
Didn't he?

I haven't heard that, and I follow his podcast, along with the Microbe TV, pretty regularly.

[neurosis]

Nope last thing I need is more mud slinging.

And that is about all it was.

[Newbeeee™]

I haven't heard that, and I follow his podcast, along with the Microbe TV, pretty regularly.

I'm sure he did....
Of course, CORRELLATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSEATION.
It's just, a co-inqidink....