 The issue of public health and policy communities engaging with food sector companies has been a source of contention for some time now. A recent study by Ralston et al. examines submissions to a consultation on a draft two tool and found widespread food industry opposition to the tool itself. This commentary reflects on this finding and the arguments for and against interacting with the food industry during different stages of the policy process. While it may be difficult to avoid conflicts of interest when working with the food industry, there are ways to make progress while maintaining our values as public health professionals. Three key steps include, one, ensuring transparency in all interactions, two, developing clear guidelines for engagement, and three, establishing independent oversight mechanisms. This article was authored by Katherine Cullerton, Gene Adams, and Martin White.