This has happened before. In 1950, the first link between tobacco smoke and cancer was publicized. Tobacco companies took 40 years before they started to admit

This has happened before. In 1950, the first link between tobacco smoke and cancer was publicized. Tobacco companies took 40 years before they started to admit (and then only due to public pressure) that the link was real and they already knew about it. Also back then real scientists defended the companies, with so-called real data. If you don't know who to trust in a case like this, it's always a good idea to pick the side that is against the bottom lines of large companies.