Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health (California Studies in Food and Culture) (Volume 3)

An alarming read for anyone in the healthcare field. Nestles major premise is that eating less would improve health and this is a challenge because this is in direct opposition to the food industries goal of making a profit. Her message is that involvement of the regulatory agencies should be more independent of the food industry. As so many of our chronic illnesses are cause by obesity or influenced by it - she makes a case for why we should all be concerned where we are heading.Particularly chilling are the details about marketing to children. In addition, the marketing tactics were a slight surprise to me as I am a new reader in this area of health policy. Nestle dissects the subtle nuances of the dietary recommendations and explains how the food industry shapes those recommendations. Of course these tactics arent illegal but when the food industry is involved with shaping the recommendations - the ethical issues become clear. Nestle suggest we should be cautious of research because the food industry influences which research gets published and even reframes the findings to be favorable to products.A scholarly read that is approachable as well. I liked the liked that the book because it weaves an interesting narrative in with copious references.

Great expose on how our food choices and recommendations are influenced by those with motives other than nutrition and health. The author has good inside info on the details of food consortiums and lobbyists. Sad but true, and eye-opening.

This is a greatly detailed and elaborate expounding upon the massive competition for money via food. Clearly shows why there are so many confusing guidelines as to what to eat. Every food seller magnifies and does everything it can to make its product seem harmless and healthy even if it is known as a carcinogen or bad food. The ONLY people you can trust are those not related to the FDA, USDA, or any food manufacturer whom will bias its "science" for money. Only those not deriving a monetary benefit are worth listening to. Everyone else has a conflict of interest. Investigation of those claiming GMO's are safe reveal they own stock in GMO companies, are promised jobs to lie, or outright bribed to say they are OK. Only the impartial, non-monetary person or scientist should be listened to and even these are threatened and smeared for revealing the truth.Buyer Beware.

What an eye-opener. While you may think you choose your food, legislative and structural issues really dictate to a large extent what products are readily available and affordable in many of the settings where we go on a daily basis.

While excellent in exposing business and political corrupt interests in food politics, the author is basing her conclusions on the premisse that only vegetarian diet is healthy which we now know is not true.

This book provided many ideas and discussion points for use in instructing a class. Great resource... one that I have used many times.

Learn how every bit of nutritional advice you've ever gotten from the government (and many other sources) has been driven by politics. Each set of recommendations has been informed by studies paid for by food companies and by the pressure these same companies put on politicians. Going into this book, I already knew much of this history; even so, I learned so many new things. It's a real eye-opener.

It is a really good book that gives you another perspective of everything around food and industry and how consumers are tricked by companies which only interest is selling without any concern or interest in people's health and well being. The author give us really good approach with her experience and knowledge about the topic using many examples of the industry. I highly recommended it would open your mind to many things you are not aware of and help you be another consumer with more power and smart food choices, who can start being part of the good change.

Marion nestle is not holding back in this eye opening review of how diet is affected in the west

Great, thanks.

Este es un libro necesario en su momento y totalmente actual hoy. Imprescindible para comprender el contexto mayor de la alimentación y el papel de la industria alimentaria en el escenario nutricional de hoy en día.

Though Ms. Nestle makes some good points about how lobbyist and special interest groups shouldn't have a say in how/what people are told about nutrition and diet. But what angered me about this book is Ms. Nestle idea that people can afford fruits/veggies when most people are working 2 jobs just to pay the mortgage on there homes, how does she expect them to buy better healthier food. People have to choose between a roof over their heads or the cheap pasta dinners or the organic tomatoes.Also Ms.Nestle states that people are fat because they eat too much... Yes sometimes, but sometime it's a glandular problem like Addison Disease or Cushing Disease. These disease make it hard for people to curve their appetite and lose weight - I have Cushing Disease and have been on many diet's and all have failed because of the Pituitary gland problem.Ms. Nestle also says that breast milk is the best/only food option for babies - all women CAN breastfeed - not true - some women can't breast feed because they don't make enough breast milk, or they are on medication that will transfer to their child that wouldn't be good for their baby.I don't like how Ms. Nestle talks down to the readers that's how it feels when you read this book. Like your some 3 grader and you don't know the difference between what's healthy and not. I also didn't like that fact that she named dropped in every chapter about this senator or this governor, this lobbyist, this group.It's all about her opinion it wasn't objective enough for me - give me both side of the story not just your educational back ground.