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Not Investment Advice

185: The Dorito-fication of Media

Oct 9, 2024
The hosts dig into the tantalizing parallels between ultra-processed snacks like Doritos and today's media landscape. They explore how hyperpalatable foods mirror the addictive nature of social media, causing us to consume without discernment. Historical insights reveal the fascinating journey of vanilla and the importance of flavor production. They humorously examine snack culture and absurd entrepreneurial ideas, while highlighting the societal impacts of unhealthy consumption patterns. Addiction to media is compared to dietary habits, making for a thought-provoking discussion.
39:34

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The design of Doritos exemplifies how technological advancements in flavor extraction mirror the evolution of addictive social media consumption.
  • Both ultra-processed snacks and media content are crafted to maximize engagement, significantly impacting consumer health and societal norms.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Snack Foods

The podcast highlights the transformation of snack foods, particularly Doritos, in relation to industrial food production and consumer behavior. It argues that Doritos represent a culmination of technological advancements in flavor extraction, like gas chromatography, which allows the creation of hyperpalatable snacks that appeal to modern tastes. This transformation parallels the evolution of media consumption, showcasing how both processed foods and social media strive for maximum engagement and consumption. The addictive nature of these snacks can be directly linked to the obesity crisis, drawing a close connection between the convenience of processed foods and the unhealthy eating habits that result from them.

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