> They paid a total of 2 people $50,000 (edit: in 2016 dollars).

> That doesn't seem like enough to entirely shape worldwide discourse around nutrition and sugar.

A contradictory example where this does occur is in propaganda. Technology can be applied to maximize the reach and influence of otherwise inferior arguments at a fraction of the cost. A relatively small sequence of "shows" or "films" can disproportionately affect the world view of billions.

edit: The adoption of cigarettes across the world was affected by a significantly much smaller investment in ad placement compared to its global adoption and affects due to the reach and amplification "of technology".