this post was submitted on 25 May 2024
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9
“Deny, denounce, delay”: The battle over the risk of ultra-processed foods (arstechnica.com)
submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I think something people don't understand about these companies- both processed food and fast food companies- is that they hire a huge number of scientists, from people who design custom artificial flavors and odors to psychologists who understand how to best design packaging to appeal to certain demographics.

They are using their understanding of human psychology and human sensory input to make these products appeal to us as much as they ever possibly could.

And both that understanding and the technology itself keeps improving.

So this will only get worse.

Just remember that every time you see anything advertised to you from a major food company or restaurant chain that they are using your brain against you and doing it well. And it will still work. It works with me despite knowing it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It works with me despite knowing it.

Well, a big mac once every couple months won't kill you. I enjoy it once in a while (especially after midnight) but eat well the rest of the time. The dosage makes the poison, as the saying goes.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The problem is that for many people it's one Big Mac this week and one Burrito Supreme the next week and Oreos and Doritos in between and Lattes from Starbucks and endless sugary sodas and so many other things people eat in the Western world.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Yeah, but that's not really the company's fault is it? It's the person's choice of what they put in their mouths

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

As I said, it is the company's fault because they are using science and technology to use your brain against you. You're blaming the scammed for falling for the scam when there wouldn't be a scam to fall for in the first place if they weren't running that scam. It's not the victim's fault.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (2 children)

not really the company’s fault is it? It’s the person’s choice of what they put in their mouths

a lot of these garbage foods full of chemicals and devoid of quality are specifically marketed as "healthy." that is 100% on the corporations lying to the world. pick up a package of protein bars with words like "smart," or "perfect" in the name of the product, and look at the ingredients--it's literally a candy bar, disguised as something "healthy"

yes, everyone ultimately decides what they eat, but are you really going to blame the people being lied to instead of the ones doing the lying?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yep, one of the many, many psychological tools in their toolbox- convincing you it's good for you.

Honey Nut Cheerios has 9 grams of sugar per serving. A serving is, as usual, far less Cheerios than anyone would likely eat- 3/4 of a cup.

https://www.fooducate.com/product/General-Mills-Honey-Nut-Cheerios/6C7863A6-2AF4-11E1-AFF9-1231380C18FB

There's nothing good for you about it. The number one ingredient is oats because if the number two ingredient, sugar, was the number one ingredient, it wouldn't taste like Cheerios.

Also note the word "can" in "can help lower cholesterol." That "can" is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

if the number two ingredient, sugar,

another trick they all use is to divide the sugar up into several different kinds of sugar, eg. clif bars have brown rice syrup, tpioca syrup, cane syrup, organic cane sugar, cane sugar. because each of these comprise a smaller percentage of the total, they can be lower in the ingredient list. but you're still getting 16g added sugar in a 68 gram "healthy" protein bar

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago

Define "healthy", though. People eat them because they pack energy into a bar that's easily thrown in a bag. I've never heard of someone eating them and expecting to turn thin and pretty.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago

You realise chemicals is just a scary science word that doesn't need to mean anything bad? You can make your point without making it sound like some scientist is deliberately trying to poison you. Water is a chemical for fuck's sake.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You people are funny. I don't give af about the downvotes, so press that button all you want, lol.

But. The "tricking us into eating stuff" isn't true for everyone. Only the weak willed.

If it was a 100% effective strategy, we'd all be overweight.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I know you believe yourself to be a free willed person who cannot be influenced subconsciously via marketing. You’ve arrived at that position because marketing and propaganda have targeted you to make you believe as such. It is extremely effective. You are human, you are just as susceptible to marketing and propaganda as the rest of us.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago

Of course I am.

I never said I don't fall for it, I said I know my limits of over consumption.