Salt Sugar Fat Summary

Dr. Pepper began to fall behind and lose market shares. In response Cadbury Schweppes reacted and created “Red Fusion”. Shocked by the news, Cadbury in 2004 contacted a man named Howard Moskowitz. Moskowitz, who earned a Ph.D in experimental psychology from Harvard and also has a consulting firm in the White Plains. He is a man who has optimized countless foods. Optimization is the the attempt make every part of the food extraordinary. People are paid to feel, touch, sip, smell, swirl, and taste the

Michael Moss wrote in his book “Salt Sugar Fat” the effects of our nation’s increasing choice of unhealthy eating and the effects following that decision. The book defines the actions food giants like Pepsi or Kraft perform in order for more people to come back and purchase their product. By appealing to ethos, logos, and pathos, Moss achieve his goal in presenting and persuading the readers the growing problem American people have today.

The book Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us was written by Michael Moss who is an American journalist who decided to explore the way Americans eat and why that might be. This was done through interviews with corporate CEOs, researchers, and nutritionist/dieticians where he was able to see the methods used to increase the addiction of the products. With this approach of interviews of different people involved you are able to see the scientific side, nutrition side and how the food processed industry see things.

Michael Moss wrote in his book “Salt Sugar Fat” the effects of our nation’s increasing choice of unhealthy eating and the effects following that decision. The book defines the actions food giants like Pepsi or Kraft perform in order for more people to come back and purchase their product. By appealing to ethos, logos, and pathos, Moss achieves his goal in presenting and persuading the readers the growing problem American people have today.

Chapter six of Salt Sugar Fat concludes the first part of the book based on the impacts of sugar that have been added to our foods, such as cereals and drinks. In chapter six many companies are under fire for claiming that drinks come from all natural flavors and ingredients, when in fact many times these foods are made from fructose and other foods of sugars with fruit flavors and hints of other natural flavors, instead of an abundance of these natural ingredients. After being called out for false advertisements many of companies remove the marketing of being made with all natural items and replace them with “flavored by natural ingredients” implying that there are hints of natural foods instead of every ingredient being natural. Chapters

Judging from the title of David Freedman’s “How Junk Food Can End Obesity” published in The Atlantic, Freeman's audience, the upper middle class of America, conjures up an image of a crazy Freedman throwing away every piece of scientific data that shows junk food is hazardous to your health. However, this is not the case. Freedman brings to light a more compromising approach to solving America’s obesity problem. His opinion is that by manufacturing healthier fast food we can solve America’s obesity issue and that his method would be able to be established nation-wide in a cheaper, fast and more effortless way than some other methods proposed. Not all, but the majority of The Atlantic’s audience cares about

“They (Food Production Corporations) may have salt, sugar, and fat on their side, but we, ultimately, have the power to make choices. After all, we decide what to buy. We decide how much to eat.” (Moss 346). In today’s society, junk food needs no introduction as everyone enjoys the taste of junk food because it is fast, tasty, and affordable but not everyone knows what all goes into their food. Over the years the food industries have drastically changed how food is produced and manufactured. Moss reflects upon the motivations and practices by the food industries which have transformed the American food supply by the use of the three key ingredients, salt, sugar, and fat. Through Michael Moss’s use of rhetorical appeals in his book Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, he discusses the extraordinary science behind what is considered tasty food, how multinational food companies use the key ingredients, salt sugar, and fat to increase sales and how other literary elements can help create trust between the author and audience thus increasing the effect of his arguments.

“The Cato Institute’s” Policy analyst, Radley Balko, in his article “What You Eat Is Your Business,” talks about the idea of obesity and whose fault it is. Balko’s purpose is to convey the idea that obesity is the individual’s responsibility, not the government’s or anyone else’s for that matter. Ultimately, Balko’s “What You Eat Is Your Business” has a strong hold on ethos, pathos, and logos, making for a successful and persuasive article.

Howard Moskowitz, a food industry consultant, detailed how to increase the flavor appeal of Dr. Pepper by its consumers, with large amounts sugar. In Prego spaghetti sauce, after tomatoes, sugar was made the next greatest ingredient in amount. The classic Lay’s potato chip brand included many different flavors such as chips with salt & vinegar, salt & pepper, cheddar, and sour cream flavoring. Mr. Moss goes on to describe how Frito-Lay executives hope to develop “designer sodium,” which may decrease the sodium content of their products by a considerable

When it comes to the topic of obesity, most will readily agree that it is a growing dilemma. This argument has many writers bringing different responses. Two explanations are debated in What You Eat is Your Business by Radley Balko and Don’t Blame the Eater by David Zinczenko. Both pieces create a good stance on the topic of obesity. Balko’s piece, however, has a better all around flow, organization and consistency.

Obesity has rapidly emerged as a serious health issue in America. The cause of obesity results from America’s social injustices. Today, food advertisements are in all places promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. Considering the great expense of healthy foods, low income families can barely afford fruits and vegetables. These two factors contribute to the increasing obesity rate in the United States. Unfortunately, it has taken an excessive amount of Americans to become obese for America to become aware of the issue and take action. Although obesity is still an increasing problem, America is fighting to reduce the number of obese citizens. As a result of low income and the media advertising unhealthy lifestyles, America is in the midst of an obesity epidemic.

“If and when the public chooses to use government power to offset the factors that promote obesity, we can do so. A day may come when we decide to limit advertising of unhealthy food, strengthen lifestyle teaching in schools, and create stronger financial incentives to adhere to lifestyle recommendations. The more eager we the people are to fight the obesogenic environment, the more responsive and effective our governments will become” (Medscape General Medicine, vol. 9, no. 4, 2007).

Obesity is becoming one of the biggest problems in the country, but there has to be reasons for it. It can be the economy, society now, or people and companies. It’s time that our country starts to realize that we can’t live like this anymore. We need to see what is causing the sudden rise in obesity, and what we can do to fix it. Education of risks and solutions can be very helpful. Obesity is killing so many people, yet is still 100 percent avoidable. Our country is beginning to care less and really let themselves go. The fast food industry, supermarkets, and schools are the ones at fault for the spreading problem of obesity.

Statistical information confirms: obesity and overweight have already turned into an issue of national concern. In 2002, “a National Survey conducted by American Sports Data revealed that 61% of adults in the U.S. felt that they were overweight, 19% admitting that they were ‘considerably’ overweight” (American Sports Data). The major causes of obesity, overweight, and similar nutritional problems included genetics, population trends, hurried lifestyles, high-carbohydrate diets, less demanding workplaces, smoking cessation, and social class aspects (American Sports Data). That hurried lifestyles and a less demanding workplace contribute in the development of obesity trends is clear. But even more importantly, because the number of those who are overweight or obese exceeds one half of the American population, the government must control our diets. The information about the costs of obesity and related diseases is even more compelling.

From 1960-62 to 2005-06 the number of obese Americans almost tripled from 13.4% to 35.1% (Weight-control Information Network 2). These two extreme upward trends might make a convincing case that the extra fast food intake has caused the hike in obesity rates, and it may very well be a good indication, but it is far from proof. Too many things have changed over the years, from the way the average American exercises, to the types of other food that people are consuming.