The Food Industry

As the obesity epidemic progressed, the food we eat, and the way it is manufactured, changed markedly. The industrial processing of food is discussed, and the implications of foods that are convenient and need little preparation are examined. Such changes have been fundamental in allowing both partners to have a career, as somebody no longer needs to stay at home. One consequence of industrial processing is the use of food additives for a range of purposes. Although additives attract suspicion, they serve useful purposes as preservatives, processing aids, colourings and flavourings, and are necessary to produce cheap, convenient and tasty modern foods. The way foods are designed is discussed, as they try to stimulate all the senses, aiming to look, sound and smell good, while having a pleasant texture. The approaches to advertising taken by the food industry and public health are contrasted. The food industry uses an approach that presses a series of emotional buttons to generate the motivation to consume. In contrast public health offers good advice. The former is more successful.