Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss, author of 'Salt, Sugar, Fat', and Calley Means, an expert on the intersection of money and junk food science, as they uncover the alarming tactics of the food industry. They discuss how junk food is engineered to boost addiction with specific combos of sugar, salt, and fat. Also explored are the industry's manipulative marketing aimed at children, the connection between diet and health, and the dangers of vegetable oils. It's a compelling look at how business interests overshadow public health.
Processed food manufacturers use specific ingredients like salt, sugar, and fat to create addictive foods.
The food industry influences public policy and opinion through research, lobbying, and marketing tactics.
Individuals should take ownership of their health and become informed consumers while advocating for transparency and education in the food industry.
Deep dives
The Formula for Making Ultra-Processed Food Addictive
The podcast episode explores how processed food manufacturers use specific ingredients such as salt, sugar, and fat to create addictive foods. The industry uses a precise formula to make snack foods, with fat being referred to as the 'mouth feel.' The episode discusses how these ingredients are highly refined and taste awful on their own, so they are combined to make the products taste good. Specific examples are given, such as how the absence of salt in certain snacks made them unpalatable.
The Influence of Food Industry on Policy and Opinion
The podcast highlights the coordinated efforts of the food industry to influence public policy and opinion in their favor. It discusses how they use research, lobbying, and marketing tactics to control the narrative around their products. The episode mentions instances where the industry writes legislation and provides research to policymakers, shaping the way food-related issues are addressed. It also explores how the industry targets children and strategically works to create brand loyalty from a young age.
The Need for Change
The podcast emphasizes the need for individuals to take ownership of their own health and become more informed consumers. It highlights the power of personal choice and encourages listeners to trust themselves when making food choices, as the system has often failed to prioritize health. The episode also calls for top-down changes, discussing the influence of the food industry on nutrition science and policy. It advocates for transparency, education, and grassroots efforts to combat the industry's influence and promote healthier food choices.
The Shift in Consumer Preference and the Loss of Trust
Large grocery companies are experiencing declining profits and consumer trust due to increasing concerns about the health implications of certain food ingredients. As a result, there is a growing trend of companies cutting back on salt, sugar, fat, and artificial colorings in order to regain consumer trust. However, some argue that even with these adjustments, the majority of processed foods are still considered unhealthy and contribute to various diseases.
The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup and Vegetable Oils
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a highly toxic compound found in many processed foods and beverages. It can lead to fatty liver, inflammation, insulin resistance, and various diseases of aging, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and dementia. Moreover, HFCS is often extracted using a mercury-dependent process, posing an additional health risk. Vegetable oils, including soybean oil, commonly used in processed foods, are also problematic as they are highly unstable, prone to oxidation, and can create toxic byproducts when heated. The regular consumption of these oils has been linked to toxic inflammation and numerous health issues.
We are getting sicker every day from cheap, addictive junk food. The food industry approaches food as “engineering projects,” with the end goal of creating “heavy users”—a disturbing internal term used by food manufacturers that helps them make as much money as possible at the expense of public health. It’s time we take a look at the intentional manipulation of our taste buds and the politics that support these practices.
In today’s episode, I talk with Michael Moss, Dhru Purohit, Calley Means, and Nina Teicholz about the formula to get you addicted to junk food and the money spent to influence you to buy more.
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