Food companies use sugar, fat to get people to eat more

From an early age Americans learn to love sugar.

I know. I’m one of many people who have a “sweet tooth.” I have to work very hard to eat only two or three sweet treats a week. Recently, on a low-carb diet, I’ve eliminated them completely. It’s tough.
 
Last week, it upset me to hear David Kessler, M.D., former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, say in a radio interview that it’s in the business plans of food companies to get American consumers to eat more food.

Kessler, discussing his book “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite,” said it was a goal of the food industry to get food on every street corner, available 24 hours a day.

And by developing processed food with layer upon layer of fat and sugar, food companies have created food that consumers crave, he said. People’s brains have been hijacked, and they can’t stop eating.

The result is Americans are getting fatter and fatter.

Kessler suggested people break the cycle by looking at food differently. When thinking about food and deciding what to eat, ask “Is that nutritious? Is that the kind of food I want?”

The brain can be reprogrammed, he said, and people can get their control back.

Kessler said the food industry needs to change its practices and act responsibly.

I agree. It's wrong for food companies to be making profits by creating addictive foods that make people fat, unhealthy, and stressed.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

[Rhea]

I just saw the new film Food Inc. last night. It should be required viewing by every American. Our food processing is broken and dangerous. Just watch the news for food-related illness (such as E. coli) and you will see what I mean.

[Rita]

Hi Rhea,

Thanks for telling me about the movie "Food Inc." Unfortunately, I missed it when it came to Olympia, Wash. I was looking forward to seeing it.

I agree that our food processing system is dangerously broken. I've been reading about genetically modified food, and it's quite something what vast changes are being made. The products aren't even labeled. The FDA says they're O.K. I don't believe it.

Rita

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People’s brains have been hijacked, and they can’t stop eating.The result is Americans are getting fatter and fatter.

[Rita]

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