chefisaac

I wanted to pass this a long to everyone. It's a new book that is out, written but a long time writer and investigator. Its called Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us.

This is a wonderful book. Though I am not all the way done with it, it is very eye opening. The prologue itself will hook you.

I can honestly relate to this book, both as a chef, a consumer and really as someone who works for giant food processing company.

Take a look at if you would like a great read.


https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Sugar-Fat...+sugar+and+fat

Penny4

This looks like an interesting read, especially because it appears to name specific brands. Keep us updated on any interesting tidbits you read! It looks similar to "Fat Chance". I was browsing through that the other day but didn't buy.

It's depressing to think that the industry is essentially working against us, grrrrr.

goldfinch

I'll give it a read. Thanks for the tip. I heard an interview with the author a while back, where he talked about the meeting among industry heads about the obesity issue. Which not surprisingly had no positive result.

Shimagnolo

I heard this NPR program about the book just a few days ago: https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/201...salt-sugar-fat

CommuteCommando

Me too. Fat Sugar Salt is on my reading list, though I may check out Fast Food Nation first.

I also finished recently, a book called The Omnivores Dilemma. Great book, but even just reading the introduction is illuminating. It highlights the paradox of how America is the most health obsessed, while at the same time, the most obese country in the world. It is about the industrialization of the food supply, and how that has produced so much confusion about what we should be eating.

An important point this book makes is on the economics of food. In any other industry, growth is driven by such things as adding features to make people consume more. There is profit motive for these companies to make us fatter, in other words sell more food, and to produce the food cheaply.

tpy2010

Sounds like an interesting book. I'm conflicted between the notion that people make choices everyday, some good, some bad, most uninformed. And, the concern that 'big brother" is going to tell me what I can eat or drink. Of course the industry is about capitalism and profit. Of course they direct their greatest focus on people who "use" their products. It's no different than the ads I get from Bike shops and internet suppliers because I have purchased something there previously. (Bike Nasbar are you reading this) We do have an obesity epidemic in our country and consumers need to be educated about healthy choices and consequences. But they are the one's who exercise these choices and I don't know where an imposing big brother draws the lines between legislating, or not legislating, better food choices, or other lifestyle choices.

chefisaac

We should clear a few things up:

- The consumer has their responsibility to pick what they eat, healthy or not. I agree with this.
- The bliss point, where a consumer says "I love this" (in this case, the right amount of sugar, salt and/or fat) has been going up. We can see this in many things. Yoplait Yogurt, Oreo Cookies, and Breakfast cereals.
- We do have the need more for education (in schools, as parents, as adults)
- Manufacturers have the responsibility for wholesome food.

All of these are the pieces of the puzzle (and there is more to be frank). Is any ONE of them solely responsible? No. Do they play a part in it, yes.

I can honestly speak from a chef point of view as a consumer, professional chef, and an employee of a giant food manufacturing company that the triangle of sugar, fat, and salt.... the appeal to win customers over is true and spot on. Yes, companies are there to make money, no doubt.

Just a different way of looking at it.

chefisaac

I do think it is somewhat about the industrialization of food. I would even go on to argue/discuss that the ability to get food fast and the convenience of food plays a roll in it today.

The fact is, one can cook healthier, know where your food is coming from and how it is prepared if you cook it from scratch at home. I think we all would agree.

If you buy food that has been processed, you do not have that luxury. Yes you have the nutritional and ingredient statements but the truth is, the FDA and USDA are so lax on that it would amaze you the stuff I've seen companies get away with. And with the companies.... lets use McDonalds as an example, pinch their supplies to be more cheap and cost effective so they can supply a lower price, it makes the manufactures be pushed into a corner making them cut corners to sustain even the smallest profit margins.

CommuteCommando

Yes, I agree too. Unfortunately, the unhealthy choices are by far the most abundant.

Lobbying plays a huge role in this. The USDA and the FDA are, in fact, working for the food industry.

edit YEA! 1K!

digger531

There is a similar post in a the general forum and I will respond to this one similarly.

Nobody forces us to eat anything. Corporate greed is running amuck everywhere. It is not the governments place to parent us or our children. If you went to McDonalds and asked 5 obese people if they knew the food they were eating was bad for them, they would be mad at you for insulting their intelligence.

Alcohol is far more addictive and far more advertised than any food. Where is the outrage?

chefisaac

Read the book bro. And then lets talk.

No one said anything about anyone forcing us to eat anything.

IBOHUNT

I know where the majority of meat I eat came from.
Sucks I can't grow pasta.

chefisaac

mmmmm jerky.

You can buy wheat milled locally. Now the question is can you MAKE the pasta!

bbeasley

Salt is playing an interesting role in my life. We've all but stopped using it at home. Since I've been on WW I eat at home more and bring my lunch to the shop. I'm now finding restaurant food tastes bad. All I can taste is the salt, it's overwhelming. About the only thing I look forward to eating out is seared tuna and white fish sashimi.

So now salt is actually helping me lose weight by keeping me home. I do miss the social aspect of eating out more.

digger531

Or...

I could not support the writing of anymore of this dribble.

You say "manufacturers have the responsibility for wholesome food". I ask why? Why should they be responsible? Why can't we be responsible? Does anyone tell you how you should make your money?

Lastly, you said we need more education. The problem with more education is it would consist of more of the same education. There are thousands of books written about nutrition each with their own individual twist of what is right and wrong. Some say vegan, some say cave man, some say no carb some say high carb, low fat, high fat...You decide what you want to believe and there is a book to back you up.

But I agree we need more education. We need to educate ourselves and our children that the responsibility falls on us and us alone. Nobody is going to look out for you except you and (if your fortunate) your family.

digger531

I do apologize for seemingly attacking you or your posts directly. I generally try not to do this as I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and that they may be right and I may be wrong.

chefisaac

Wholesome food: So tell me, did you know in 1997 in China, they found cardboard in sausage a man was selling on the street? Would you eat that? Thats my point..... food companies should provide wholesome food. Now be careful here friend.... I did not say healthy. I am saying wholesome. Big difference. When I say wholesome, it also means truthful. Labels, ingredient decks, etc. How can something be wholesome when you dont always know what you are eating?

You are assuming a lot. Example.... when I said more education. You are assuming I mean the same education in the statues quo. You should have asked what I meant before assuming. Anyway, more education around the following:

1) The difference between house made things versus manufactured things
2) What happens to the food while it is being manufactured
3) Where food grows and comes from (and dont tell me people know this... because its not true. Was a culinary teacher for 5 years and I can vouch for this one).
4) How to cook (this should be done on two levels... both in schools and for adults).

We have gone way off track with the number of famalies (people) cooking at home. This can be seen with the increased profits from QSR, fast food, restaurants, etc.

In a lot of schools, schools food is based on simple carbs. Kids do not learn how to cook anymore (no money) and PE is being cut. Most kids do not know where food comes from. Check out Jamie Olivers "Food Revolution".

See, this conversation is tough for me. I am a professional chef, I have taught in schools, demo in a lot of places, work for a food manufactoring company and have roots in Slow Food.

chefisaac

Ah no worries. Life is short.

But sometime... do read the book. It is good.

vesteroid

I am with digger here, people need to take responsibility for their choices, and the consequences of those choices. If the info is not clear to the, they need to seek out answers, or satisfy themselves they have done what they can to make the safe and appropriate choice.

There is a mountain of evidence out there that our current food source (processed) food has had unintended consequences...regardless if it was driven by profit, or convenience.

digger531

It seems that our view points will get closer as the discussion continues.

First of all, there are far worse things than cardboard in most of the processed foods we buy. Not saying its right just saying it is.

I am not making any assumptions. You said more education which implies that there is some education. In your second post you outlined a plan that wouldn't be considered more, it would be different. While I agree on this point, I find it doubtful that, after years of lying to us about so many other topics (history) the educational system would ever get this right. Remember the food pyramid.

I agree cooking and eating at home is extremely important (as is having family dinner at a table but thats another discussion). However, I believe the burden is ours to teach our children. My 13 year old daughter (god help me) is pretty handy in the kitchen and without her my 16 year old son would certainly perish during summer vacation (he can cook also, he is just too lazy to).

No argument here but you may be happy to hear, school lunches are significantly better this year.

I do believe we could get together and solve all these problems along with the national debt, high gas prices and the starving children in Africa... but who would listen.

chefisaac

School lunches are not better this year. Only 9 percent of the schools have changed for the better. At least according to contract food service. School food falls under one of my job titles.

I think for the sake of the thread, I will bow out of the debate.

digger531

The public school my children attend got a major lunch overhaul and it is significantly better. Not great but better.