Salt Fat How The Food Giants Hooked Us Chapter Summary

Author of the New York Times #1 bestseller novel Salt, Sugar, Fat How the Food Giants Hooked Us and a Pulitzer Prize Winner, Michael Moss examines in his novel the correlation between the American diet and processed foods. Michael Moss not only writes about his visits to the infamous food factories but he also cites short accounts of food factory founders and includes the interviews of multiple individuals who have high positions in the processed food industries which he scrutinizes in his novel. He provides the reader with first-hand accounts of individuals who partook in either critiquing the efforts of food industries or were directly involved in the obesity epidemic that has overtaken the American diet. Moss reiterates in his novel

In the first section of the book Moss comments on sugar and how Americans have become addicted to the product due to the existence of a bliss point which processes food industries have utterly exploited in profiting from the consumers not only exceeding the daily sugar content recommended to a consumer but also disregarding the social efforts in decreasing American obesity and heart disease. After careful analysis, the food industries have understood that sugar evokes emotions of pleasure and reward upon ingesting sugary foods. He states that the amount of sugar that an industry adds in their products is dependent on the “bliss point” of their targeted consumer. This bliss point is “ the optimum level” of sugar content in a product that drives the consumer to purchase more of the product. It is understood by food industries that the more the sugar content in a product not only is it better tasting but it increases the customer’s satisfaction with the product.He states, “...people love sugar especially, kids. And up to a cert point-the bliss point- the more sugar there is, the better.” In his analysis, Moss concludes what the American Heart Association has to say about the sugar content in processed foods. “ “High intake of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars.” It

Washington Post Journalist, Hannah Wallace notices that Moss does not “offer any solutions” and beholds the consumers responsible for their health and dietary choices. Moss’ advice seems to be targeted only to an audience who is financially stable and able to pay an extra buck for healthy food and not those individuals who do not have access to healthy options. Wallace states that “Yes, it’s empowering to change your eating habits. But how can you choose health[ier] foods if your neighborhood bodegas sell only soda, chips and “fruit and yogurt” breakfast bars (which, as Moss points out, can have more sugar and less fiber than Oreos)?” Wallace reinforces the idea that Moss’ advice on eating healthy is an option for a select few, who have the luxury of accessibility to healthy food but can also purchase the healthy, expensive