Chocolate milk maker wanted study touted with "Concussion"

NEW YORK (AP) — A small chocolate milk company wanted to tout the ability of its drink in helping high school athletes recover from concussions to coincide with the Will Smith movie "Concussion," according to emails obtained by The Associated Press.

Back in December, the University of Maryland issued a press release about its study that apparently found Fifth Quarter Milk effective in improving the cognitive and motor functions of high school football players, even after they suffered concussions.

After conducting an internal investigation, the University of Maryland said earlier this month that it found a "concerning lack of understanding of the basic principles of conflict of interest in research at all levels of the process."

On Tuesday, emails released to the AP in response to a public records request show a university researcher and a Fifth Quarter owner consulted about the study and how to release its findings.

The press release, issued on Dec. 22 before the release of "Concussion," also seemed to illustrate the breakdowns in scientific and conflicts-of-interest standards that can happen when companies fund studies about their products.