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Salt Sugar Fat
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us | Michael Moss
From a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at The New York Times comes the troubling story of the rise of the processed food industry -- and how it used salt, sugar, and fat to addict us. Salt Sugar Fat is a journey into the highly secretive world of the processed food giants, and the story of how they have deployed these three essential ingredients, over the past five decades, to dominate the North American diet. This is an eye-opening book that demonstrates how the makers of these foods have chosen, time and again, to double down on their efforts to increase consumption and profits, gambling that consumers and regulators would never figure them out. With meticulous original reporting, access to confidential files and memos, and numerous sources from deep inside the industry, it shows how these companies have pushed ahead, despite their own misgivings (never aired publicly). Salt Sugar Fat is the story of how we got here, and it will hold the food giants accountable for the social costs that keep climbing even as some of the industry's own say, "Enough already."
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BC_Dittemore
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Pickpick

Salt Sugar Fat is less about health than it is about how companies like Kraft and Coke use marketing to boost sales and our own human weakness against us. I was surprised by how often they blatantly lie. Surely it is illegal to make false claims, right? Well, it‘s only lying if you get caught.

I appreciate that Moss dove into the history of these companies and the people behind the scenes. It only enriched what was already an engrossing book.

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JoeMo
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Pickpick

I knew it was terrible, the way that huge corporate entities add these ingredients to our food to get us hooked…it‘s even worse than I thought. Now I understand why a bag of chips or package of Oreos only last a couple of days in my single-person household. This book already has me reading labels more closely and being nearly paranoid of every food item I pick up at the store. Strongly recommended.

#bookspinbingo

Ruthiella But Reese‘s Peanut Butter Cups are okay… right…right? 😱😭 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! @Ruthiella - I was thinking the same thing! 😂 2y
36 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LitStephanie
Pickpick

Michael Moss presents his research into how and why processed food companies make their products so unhealthy. He presents a balanced view of the competitive market place of junk food vs public health. These companies are such stock price driven behemoths that they can't (won't) allow any change to formulas that would reduce consumption. Compulsive eating = profit.

7 likes1 stack add
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LitStephanie
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This book is so interesting! Sorry the pic is a bit blurry, but it says cereal makers spend twice as much on advertising as they do on ingredients.

Graywacke Crazy. Also great book. Surprisingly fun...and horrible and all that. 4y
LitStephanie @Graywacke I thought it was really well done. Really makes me think about the processed foods I do eat. Did you know pretzels have three times the salt of some potato chips? I didn't. 4y
Graywacke @LitStephanie that fact didn‘t stick 🙂 4y
14 likes3 comments
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ONH
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EXCELLENT read. I could not put this book down!!! Fascinating revelations and insights into marketing, the history of processed food, and why we crave it. I can‘t look at anything the same anymore 😱😱

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ONH
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This book is SO much more readable than I thought it would be. The author is a great historian with a talent for writing about psychology, great minds, advertising, and biochemistry in a compelling and succinct voice. 100% recommend!

(Y‘all can add White Claw to my list of cravings!!! 🤪 Happy long weekend y‘all💥)

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EchoLogical
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First book of the month!

RamsFan1963 I've read it, it's a really good book 5y
EchoLogical @RamsFan1963 I'm a little nervous to read it. I think it'll make me want to throw all my food out. 😅 5y
37 likes2 comments
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WellReadCatLady
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I am disgusted with processed food 🤢

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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

I wouldn't read this while eating, not because it contains gross images of food production, because you will look at what you're consuming, which is for most of us some kind of processed food, and wonder why you're eating this crap. We've been trained like puppies to love our sugary and salty snacks, we are a nation of addicts. 4 💥💥💥💥 out of 5.

69 likes2 stack adds
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gingerandjazz
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I‘m sorry, what now?? #milkmines #SaltSugarFat

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Jgotham
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Reading this book while eating my Frosted Flakes. I‘m starving but also reading this chapter about sugar and cereals, I‘m now kinda grossed out and don‘t wanna finish my snack 😖

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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I always start the new year with a nonfiction book. Listening to this on Libby. How do you start your reading new year?

Librarianaut My starter for 2019: nonfiction is Maps of Meaning (Dr. J B Peterson); fiction is China Rich Girlfriend (K Kwan) 6y
Graciouswarriorprincess @Librarianaut Great choices. Happy reading! 6y
55 likes2 comments
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EasySimpleSmart
Pickpick

Very good insights on food industry and food marketing

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you enjoy it here. 6y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 6y
2 likes2 comments
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SW-T
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Pickpick

A solid read, though it seemed liked most of the book was devoted to sugar, with salt and fat not getting as much coverage. Basically a reminder of how modified our food is, and that it‘s not just stuff in a box or a can you have to watch out for.

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Jerdencon
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This is what I am currently reading for #freakyfriday so I found a No-cal margarita recipe! Might have to make a batch of this tonight!
#freakyfridaychallenge @Clwojick @monalyisha @dariazeoli

monalyisha Perfect! 🙌🏻 7y
52 likes1 comment
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Books_Wine_Repeat
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Pickpick

This was my book club pick for August. It has some interesting and jarring information about what is in our food. Read it. You'll never look at grocery stores or food labels the same.

64 likes4 stack adds
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lonelybluenights
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Because documentaries on food is not enough for me... #reread #readingatwork

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dariazeoli
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"If sugar is the methamphetamine of processed food ingredients, with its high-speed, blunt assault on our brains, then fat is the opiate, a smooth operator whose effects are less obvious but no less powerful."

I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. Processed foods are #poison and they're constructed to keep us coming back for more. I know I can't resist the call of a bag of chips.

#90sinjuly

JanuarieTimewalker13 I'm guilty of every breakfast having a processed food...brown rice krispies... it's hard to get away from all processed foods. I think I need to know the definition of processed foods. I guess my organic soy milk would be processed too? I don't make it at home. 7y
Cinfhen That quote 🙀🙀🙀 7y
dariazeoli @JanuarieTimewalker13 Good point - there is a difference between soy milk and, say, Froot Loops. It's a bit hyperbolic to say all processed food is poison- but a lot of the standard American diet is! 7y
32 likes4 comments
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Diannelebold
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Taking a break from YA...

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MeaMck
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Classic food-nerd move; handing this over to a junk loving friend for Christmas. I loved this book and its balance between nutritional science and marketing efforts in the battle for our appetites. It's everything I crave in a book about food (get it? bad, I know).

#recommendsday

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wordsworthsprite
Pickpick

Eye opening book into the business of food.

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Soozanne
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Pickpick

My eyes have been opened. Processed food is a blessing and a curse. This book pulls back the curtain and let's me peek inside the huge machine of the processed food industry. I wish I had read this when my kids were little, but I'm grateful I've read it now. I went to the grocery store this morning and looked at the products on the shelves with a more critical eye. I wish everyone would read this book!

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Soozanne
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Jeffrey Dunn, former mega marketing guy at Coca-Cola, now uses his skills at Bolthouse Farms (which is based in my fair city) to get people excited about eating their veggies. He is my new hero!

Bostonmomx2 I'm gonna get this one. Sounds good! 8y
Soozanne It's definitely worth reading! 8y
1 like2 comments
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katrrosee
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Does anyone else go through those "I'm going to get my life together now" weeks where you still basically end up doing the same thing as always - sitting on the couch with a glass of wine and unhealthy snack, reading.

missjenniferlowe Frequently! I could feel one coming on today, even. Looking up weight loss tips right before I eat cookies as an appetizer. 8y
LauraBrook Yes, it me! Current status: laying on couch, drinking 7Up, reading about PCOS and how diet changes can help, and then by default my whole life could get better. Ugh, maybe it's just time for bed? 8y
Eyelit Yes! Usually happens mid summer for me. 😄 8y
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annahenke Yes. With you on this. 8y
Texreader I had about a year of that a long time ago. I bought a ton of books 📚 but never read them. Apparently it was all retail therapy that got me through that rough patch. Still have 'em somewhere. I probably should find someone who needs them more than me now. Best of luck!! 8y
Notafraidofwords Totally. Motivation is hard. 8y
Gezemice Yeah.... I am procrastinating right now on Litsy instead of doing work I was planning to get on with. 8y
Kimzey Yes. I go through phases of reading self-help books and sometimes pick up a good habit or two that may even last for a few weeks! 😁 8y
Kimzey ....until back to normal. 8y
katrrosee @Kimzey That's exactly what I do! 😬my new years resolutions never stick. 8y
76 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Soozanne
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"The truth will set you free, but, first, it will piss you off."

Megabooks That's why I eat Lucky Charms 😉😉 (Actually I usually have an egg or two for breakfast.) 8y
Soozanne Ew! 😉 8y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PrezBookster
Pickpick

This book was eye opening! I knew some of the information, but there were many times I was saying ewwww or was thinking REALLY?! How do I eat ANYTHING!!! Lol

Hugoreads I am currently reading this. Very interesting book. 8y
[DELETED] 3604292746 This is on my TBR list 👍 8y
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PrezBookster
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The man narrating the audio book is SOOO boring! But it's so true and it's getting me pissed off that these corporations don't care!!! All about the 💵💵

Dogearedcopy Scott Brick is a polarizing voice in the industry! His fans and his critics are equally hardcore! 8y
LeahBergen And now I want chips 😬 8y
LitHousewife I've not read this, but do give Scott Brick another chance. He was so good with In Cold Blood. I also enjoyed The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. 8y
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Jenshootsweddings Scott brick's audio of Jurassic park is amazzzzing! 8y
Kluckleesie If you like this, check out some of Michael Pollan's books. I have read In Defense of Food, and love it. Working on his book about gardening right now. 8y
Coleen Love Scott Brick! Would hate to think he'd ruin a book for anybody. 😢 8y
PrezBookster @Dogearedcopy @LitHousewife @Jenshootsweddings @Coleen I quite literally almost fell asleep driving when listening on he way home. Maybe it's more the subject then the voice? I will give it another chance. I'm new to audio books, so I didn't know he was such a favorite! Lol thanks for letting me know! I won't give up! 8y
Dogearedcopy @PrezBookster He may not be the narrator for you! I personally love his performance in 'In Cold Blood'; but haven't found equal satisfaction with other titles he has narrated. 8y
Jenshootsweddings I listened to my first Agatha Christie while driving and thought I'd fall asleep ... It was just too quiet etc. But if I had read the book curled up by a fire, I think it would have been much different. Some audiobooks are just too dry for driving! 8y
Jenny.Dubs But but but....Cheetos puffs! 8y
PrezBookster @Jenny.Dubs RIGHT! And... Basically most delicious things! 😂 8y
71 likes3 stack adds11 comments
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Pentapod
Pickpick

Not a health food guide. Not a diet book. Rather, an in-depth investigative report into the origins and current state of the processed food business, covering everything from the origins and intrigues of the Coke/Pepsi rivalry to the acquisition of Kraft by tobacco empire Philip Morris and how they applied lessons learned from tobacco to boost food sales. Whether you love Froot Loops or worship Michael Pollan, this should be a must-read for all.

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TeaRainBook
Pickpick

5/5 stars

LauraBeth This has been sitting on my nightstand for a year - I need to read it! 8y
TeaRainBook @LauraBeth it will make you look at grocery shopping in a new way 8y
LauraBeth I need to crack it open @TeaRainBook. I've also had a lot of people recommend as a companion to it 8y
TeaRainBook @LauraBeth I'm hoping to get How Not To Die from the library sometime this year. Heard really good things. 8y
LauraBeth I'll let you know when I finish it @TeaRainBook. If you can't get it at the library I'll just pass on my copy to you 8y
4 likes5 comments
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TeaRainBook
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This is a recurring theme in the book.

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TeaRainBook
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I just threw up in my mouth. I could never handle Ms. Deen's shows because of her heavy use of butter. But that description of fried Mac&Cheese almost gave me a heart attack.

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TeaRainBook
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The first line is the truth! I hated most MREs and when forced to eat them I would try to get the vegetarian ones, as they were the least gross.

BookBabe 😐 8y
7 likes1 comment
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Mcoun
Pickpick

A scathing analysis of the tactics used by the food industry to increase consumption of their products. I was really fascinated by the science of why we enjoy salt, sugar, and fat so much. It lead me to realize that potato chips are quite possibly the worst product ever invented!

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Mcoun
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"If sugar is the methamphetamine of processed food ingredients, with its high-speed, blunt assault on our brains, then fat is the opiate, a smooth operator whose effects are less obvious but no less powerful."

I might not want to eat anything else but vegetables after reading this book.

1 like1 stack add
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Quellelove
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Mehso-so

Nail-biting thriller. Too bad it's all true. I wanted to like this book more. The surprises inside are for those not in the know. I knew too much. Otherwise it's a fascinating book about junk food and food industry shenanigans.

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KendallMorganHall
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Pickpick

This book is super depressing, in that it exposes all the tricks that the food industry uses to make their food addictive and keep us fat, but I also think it should be required reading. This book is eye opening about how dangerous processed food is - especially its sodium levels.

Gulfsidemusing An excellent, eye-opening read! Audio version very well done. 8y
4 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Hoagbraker
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Pickpick

An amazing look inside how we are enticed and addicted to processed foods! Some of the practices are downright criminal. I cannot recommend this enough of you have any interest in nutrition or our eating habits.

5 likes1 stack add
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SubwayBookReview
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Robin: "I just learned that what is called 'fruit concentrate' is just sugar. It's not at all natural. This book is a good reminder to eat healthier."

32 likes22 stack adds