The Next Big Idea Daily Big Food Is Making Us Sick — and Getting Rich Doing It
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Sep 18, 2025 Stuart Gillespie, a veteran global nutrition and development expert and author of 'Food Fight,' reveals how Big Food prioritizes profit over health, leading to obesity and environmental damage. He discusses the alarming $15 trillion annual cost on global health. Gillespie shares insights on reclaiming food systems through government policies and civic engagement, emphasizing the need for informed action. His thought-provoking ideas challenge us to rethink our food sources and advocate for a healthier future.
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Food System Is Net Destructive
- Our global food system is destroying more than it creates and harms human health at massive scale.
- Malnutrition and unhealthy diets cause a quarter of adult deaths and cost ~ $15 trillion annually.
System Built For Cheap Calories, Not Health
- Today's food system was built after WWII to produce cheap calories and later morphed into a profit-driven, financialized industry.
- A handful of transnationals now control major markets and prioritize profit over nourishment.
Ultra-Processed Foods Drive Profit And Harm
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are the most profitable products and the least healthy for people and planet.
- Corporations have engineered addictive foods and exploit biological preferences to drive consumption.
