The Dr. Hyman Show

Ultra-Processed Food Is the New Tobacco—How Big Food Manipulates Science, Policy, & Your Cravings | Michael Pollan

28 snips
Mar 5, 2025
Join award-winning journalist and food activist Michael Pollan as he exposes the truth behind ultra-processed foods, likening their grip on our health to that of tobacco. Pollan reveals how a few corporations monopolize our food supply, engineering products to keep us addicted. He discusses the fragility of the food system highlighted by the pandemic, the misleading practices of companies rebranding healthier options, and the urgent need for systemic change in food policy to promote better health and transparency.
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ANECDOTE

Industry Backlash

  • Michael Pollan experienced backlash from the food industry after Food Inc.
  • Invitations to agricultural schools were canceled, and his talks were met with counter-programming or demands for debates.
INSIGHT

Fragile Food System

  • The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of the American food system.
  • Empty supermarket shelves contrasted with farmers destroying food due to the specialized nature of the two separate food systems (one for consumers and one for institutions).
ANECDOTE

Tyson's Power Play

  • John Tyson used political influence to override public health measures during the pandemic.
  • He invoked the Defense Production Act to keep meatpacking plants open despite them being COVID-19 vectors.
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