Salt Sugar Fat

How the Food Giants Hooked Us

By: Michael Moss

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The Atlantic • The Huffington Post • Men’s Journal • MSN (U.K.) • Kirkus Reviews • Publishers Weekly

NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • WINNER OF THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARD FOR WRITING AND LITERATURE

From a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at The New York Times comes the explosive story of the rise of the processed food industry and its link to the emerging obesity epidemic. Michael Moss reveals how companies use salt, sugar, and fat to addict us and, more important, how we can fight back.

In the spring of 1999, the heads of the world’s largest processed food companies gathered at Pillsbury headquarters in Minneapolis for a secret meeting. On the agenda: the emerging epidemic of obesity, and what to do about it.

Increasingly, the salt-, sugar-, and fat-laden foods these companies produced were being linked to obesity, and a concerned Kraft executive took the stage to issue a warning: There would be a day of reckoning unless changes were made. When he was done, the most powerful person in the room - the CEO of General Mills - stood up to speak, clearly annoyed. And by the time he sat down, the meeting was over.

In Salt Sugar Fat, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Michael Moss shows how we got here. Featuring examples from some of the most recognizable (and profitable) companies and brands of the last half century - including Kraft, Coca-Cola, Lunchables, Kellogg, Nestlé, Oreos, Cargill, Capri Sun, and many more - Moss’ explosive, empowering narrative is grounded in meticulous, often eye-opening research.

Includes a bonus PDF with endnotes from the book

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Michael Moss (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"What happens when one of the country’s great investigative reporters infiltrates the most disastrous cartel of modern times: a processed food industry that’s making a fortune by slowly poisoning an unwitting population? You get this terrific, powerfully written book, jammed with startling disclosures, jaw-dropping confessions and, importantly, the charting of a path to a better, healthier future. This book should be read by anyone who tears a shiny wrapper and opens wide. That’s all of us." (Ron Suskind, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President)

"In this meticulously researched book, Michael Moss tells the chilling story of how the food giants have seduced everyone in this country. He understands a vital and terrifying truth: that we are not just eating fast food when we succumb to the siren song of sugar, fat, and salt. We are fundamentally changing our lives - and the world around us.” (Alice Waters)

Life-changing information, appropriate reader

Would you listen to Salt Sugar Fat again? Why?

Yes. To be reminded that the food processing industry is indirectly poisoning us.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

YES. This is much more to Mr. Brick's style than, say, a sci-fi narrative. He relies on his 'sing-song' speaking technique (phoning it in) too much for thriller, etc. But for non-fiction, he's just great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes. The information about Lunchables. I actually started an 'all lunchables' diet once...so uninformed.

Any additional comments?

Great Book. Recommending it to friends.

An INCREDIBLE expose!

What did you love best about Salt Sugar Fat?

It's almost like a history of the processed food industry.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

Scott Brick did an excellent job of reading: well paced, informative, and interesting.

This book ioffers great insight

helps to bring understanding to the organizations that make our food and how to become more conscientiously competent when choosing what to eat.

Fantastic to understand how processed food impact us everyday!!

Very detailed explanation about processed food and how salt , sugar , bad fats impact our daily life. Michael didn’t left any one of the companies in his analysis. This is eye opening book for anyone want understand about how big giants hooked us and change lifestyle to improve your health!!

illuminating

This book is causing me to rethink what foods I choose to consume. The revelation of the food giants marketing, boardroom and production discussions was laid out factually and without finger pointing. Moss's interviews with the scientists, production division heads and other decision makers and influences shows how artfully the general public has been manipulated. The narrator was easy to listen to and I would seek out more books read by Scott Brick.

Phenomenal

I bought the book actually mistaking for another book and was not disappointed. As someone working in consumer products the strategies and conversations about consumers is spot on and even more competitive in food than anyone realizes. The extensive research behind each chapter only makes the book more compelling.

A MUST READ / LISTEN

Before going on another diet listen to this book. It has helped me to think about what is food and what is engineered to pass as food, but in reality is unhealthy junk food that causes obesity and other health problems.

Super Interesting Read

I didn’t think I would enjoy listening to a book about nutrition but the way the author tells the story of how the food giants operate and what goes on behind the scenes is just so captivating and educational at the same time.

Great book

Amazing story about how he industrialized food business is destroying American health. Wonderful read for all

Very informative read

Great information on what is really in our food and how the industry gets us hooked. Also interesting insight into the creation and business models of the brands we use.