Ten Things The Junk Food Manufacturers Don’t Want You To Know
David Ludwig and Marion Nestle are the authors of a recently published commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In it, they question whether the junk food industry is really sincere in its efforts to “combat obesity.” After all, the industry’s shareholders celebrate when stock prices rise (i.e., people consume more of their products) and not the other way around.
In a recent interview, David and Marion spoke with U.S. News and revealed the ten things the junk food manufacturers don’t want you to know about their products and advertising tactics. Briefly, they are…
i) Junk food makers spend billions advertising unhealthy foods to kids.
ii) The studies that food producers support tend to minimize health concerns associated with their products.
iii) Junk food makers donate large sums of money to professional nutrition associations.
iv) More processing means more profits, but typically makes the food less healthy.
v) Less-processed foods are generally more satiating than their highly processed counterparts.
vi) Many supposedly healthy replacement foods are hardly healthier than the foods they replace.
vii) A health claim on the label doesn’t necessarily make a food healthy.
viii) Food industry pressure has made nutritional guidelines confusing.
ix) The food industry funds front groups that fight anti-obesity public health initiatives.
x) The food industry works aggressively to discredit its critics.
if you’re under the impression some of the bigger junk food retailers have a soft side, and are genuinely concerned about your health and the health of your children, I highly recommend reading the full article!
