by Tom Horvath, PhD
Do you consider the food manufacturing companies to be “drug dealers?” Back to that question in a moment.
What’s a food manufacturer? A company that creates ultra-processed foods (also known as “hyper-palatable foods”). Ultra-processed foods are manufactured first by taking genuine foods and breaking them into specific components (such as starches, sugars, flavors, and fats). Then those components are combined (depending on the food) with salt, artificial sugar, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, stabilizers, etc. The result is a food that is highly tasty (and preferably has a long shelf life). This food might be hard to pass up, but your body will typically appreciate it if you do.
How to spot a manufactured food? Two basic clues are the length of the ingredients list and having on that list chemicals you would not purchase for use in your own kitchen.
By comparison, consider coca leaves. For South Americans who chew them, they have an effect like a cup of coffee. For those who take the manufactured versions, powdered cocaine or crack, the effect is much more powerful.
To clarify, there are many foods that are minimally processed and highly nutritious. Furthermore, some foods are so much easier to further prepare that it is not efficient to purchase them “raw.” Examples include fruits and vegetables frozen right after picking, whole grains, beans, nuts, and other foods. Some foods, such as canned tomatoes, may even be more nutritious after processing (in this case, because the antioxidant lycopene is more bioavailable after minimal processing).
Do manufactured foods make Big Food a drug dealer? Any business wants to maintain (or expand) its business and make profits. Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Mounjaro, Victoza, and other weight loss meds are now widely available (at least to individuals who can afford them). Are these meds behind what may be a slowing of weight gain in the US? It’s too soon to say with confidence that the weight gain epidemic is slowing, or if so, that these medications are part of a change in the weight gain trend.
However, if you are a business, and especially a big business responsible to stockholders, it would be sensible to consider the possibility, given the new weight loss meds, that you need to further increase the appeal of your foods. Research in the last decade suggests that the introduction of hyper-palatable foods has increased (even before weight loss meds). We’ll see if the weight loss meds can overcome some people’s natural inclinations for tasty foods. Many people move beyond hyper-palatable foods, even without these meds, but it can be a challenge.
So, is Big Food a drug dealer? You can decide for yourself. This blog has pointed out some similarities. Because drug dealers in general are not going away any time soon, knowing how to cope with your cravings (in this case, for specific foods) is perhaps more important than ever.
Reference Link: Change in hyper-palatable food availability in the US food system o ver 30 years: 1988–2018
