Key insights

• ⚙️ Big food conglomerates manipulate food science to increase sales
• 🍔 Ultra-processed foods make up over half of the American diet
• 🥗 Food industry attempts to sabotage nutrition science advisory committee
• ⚠️ Ultra-processed foods are linked to health issues and addiction
• 🧂 Companies use salt, sugar, and fat to mask off-notes in manufacturing process
• 🏭 Industrial use of ingredients for manufacturing and shelf life
• 🥦 Ultra-processed food is marketed as healthy by food companies
• 🤝 Partnerships with nutrition organizations for positive endorsement

Q&A

• How have food companies learned from the success of the tobacco industry?

  Food companies have learned from the tobacco industry's success in selling addictive products, leading to a dramatic increase in the supply of processed foods. Moreover, they have influenced dietary guidelines through industry funding, mirroring the historical manipulation by the tobacco industry.

• What are the similarities between tactics used by the tobacco and food industries?

  Both industries have employed similar tactics in hiding health consequences and promoting addictive products. Research has even found that hyper-palatable foods, more likely to be produced by tobacco-owned companies, exhibit these parallels. Executives from tobacco companies have acknowledged the addictive nature of their products.

• How do big food conglomerates influence food science and consumption?

  Big food conglomerates manipulate food science to increase sales by using ingredients like salt, sugar, and fat to mask undesirable flavors in the manufacturing process. Additionally, they market ultra-processed foods as healthy, partner with nutrition organizations for positive endorsement, and influence dietary guidelines to promote their products, despite potential health concerns.

• What are ultra-processed foods, and how are they linked to health issues?

  Ultra-processed foods are products that undergo extensive industrial processing, often containing additives and little to no whole foods. Research has shown a strong link between ultra-processed foods and health issues like obesity, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, these foods are considered functionally addictive, leading to overconsumption and dependency.

• 00:00 Big food conglomerates manipulate food science to encourage consumption, similar to big tobacco's tactics. Ultra-processed foods are linked to health issues and are functionally addictive.
• 02:20 Processed vs. ultra-processed foods impact health. Food giants use salt, sugar, and fat to mask off-notes in manufacturing process.
• 04:15 Food companies market ultra-processed food as healthy, partnering with nutrition organizations for positive endorsement, while casting doubt on research linking ultra-processed food to health issues.
• 06:25 Food companies use tactics like funding favorable studies and influencing dietary guidelines to promote their products despite potential health concerns.
• 08:33 The similarity between tobacco and food industry tactics in hiding health consequences and promoting addictive products is concerning. Research shows hyper-palatable foods are more likely to be produced by tobacco-owned companies. Executives from Philip Morris acknowledged the addictive nature of their products.
• 10:28 Food companies learned from tobacco industry's success in selling addictive foods, leading to a dramatic increase in processed food supply. Dietary guidelines are influenced by industry funding, mirroring the history of tobacco industry manipulation.