Ryleigh Rowe

Mrs. Davis

Comp 11 9:00

April 25, 2023

Picture this: it's dinnertime in a typical American household. The parents are just getting

home from work, the kids are coming back from their extracurricular activities, and everyone's

starving. In a rush to put food on the table, the family turns to quick and convenient options:

frozen pizzas, canned soups, boxed mac and cheese, and sugary drinks. While these meals may

be satisfying in the moment, they often lack the nutrients our bodies need to thrive, contributing

to a nationwide health crisis. But is it fair to blame the families alone for their unhealthy choices,

or should the food industry also be held accountable for their role in promoting and profiting

from these products? The rise of obesity and health-related issues is a growing concern, and

many people wonder who should be held accountable. The food industry plays a significant role

in shaping food choices and promoting unhealthy products, and they should be held responsible

for the obesity and health epidemic. This essay will examine the ways in which the food industry

promotes unhealthy products, the need for the industry to take responsibility for promoting

unhealthy products and contributing to the solution, and the food industry's contribution to

addiction to sugar and salt.

The food industry heavily markets sugary drinks and snacks, which are high in calories

and contribute to obesity. "Beverage companies spend $3.2 billion annually on advertising in the

United States, with the majority of that budget going toward sugary drinks" (National Academies

of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, p. 22). This means that families are bombarded
with persuasive messages and attractive branding that make sugary drinks seem like a normal

and desirable part of daily life, despite their well-documented negative effects on health.

Additionally, the food industry uses deceptive labeling and advertising to make unhealthy

products appear healthy. "Companies use health claims on their products to make them seem

healthy when they are not. For example, products that are high in sugar, such as cereals and

snacks, are marketed as being a good source of vitamins and minerals" (Center for Science in the

Public Interest, n.d., para. 7). This deceptive labeling is just one of the ways in which the food

industry prioritizes profits over public health, luring consumers into purchasing products that

may actually contribute to weight gain and other health issues. Moreover, the food industry

resists government regulation and efforts to improve food quality and nutrition. "The food

industry has lobbied against government regulation and has successfully blocked efforts to

improve food quality and nutrition. The industry has also lobbied to prevent the regulation of

portion sizes and calorie labeling" (Sugar Coated). This resistance to regulation is particularly

concerning given the extensive research linking high levels of added sugar, salt, and unhealthy

fats to a range of chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

The food industry should take responsibility for promoting unhealthy products and

contribute to the solution. The food industry should be more transparent about the ingredients

and nutrition information of their products. "The food industry should be more transparent about

the ingredients they use and their impact on health. This includes providing clear and concise

nutrition information, including added sugars, on food labels and menus" (National Academies

of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, p. 29). By providing accurate and transparent

nutrition information, consumers can make informed decisions about what they eat and avoid

hidden sources of unhealthy ingredients like added sugars and excessive sodium. This would also
incentivize food companies to prioritize healthier ingredients and recipe formulations. The food

industry should invest in and promote healthier food options. "The food industry can play a

significant role in promoting healthier foods by investing in research and development of

healthier products and by promoting those products through marketing and advertising

campaigns" (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, p. 29). By

prioritizing and promoting healthier options, the food industry can help shift consumer

preferences towards healthier foods, ultimately contributing to a healthier population.

Another significant contribution of the food industry to the health crisis is the addictive

nature of sugar and salt in their products. The food industry adds sugar and salt to products to

make them more palatable and addictive, leading to overconsumption and negative health

effects. "High levels of sugar and salt in processed foods contribute to addiction, making it

difficult for people to make healthy choices" (Sugar Coated). The food industry must take

responsibility for the addictive nature of their products and reduce the amount of added sugar

and salt in their products. This would not only reduce the health risks associated with

overconsumption but also help shift consumer preferences towards healthier options.

In conclusion, the food industry has a significant responsibility for promoting and

profiting from unhealthy products that contribute to the obesity and health epidemic. The food

industry should be held accountable for their role in shaping food choices, using deceptive

labeling and advertising, resisting government regulation, and contributing to the addiction to

sugar and salt. The food industry must take responsibility for their actions and contribute to the

solution by providing transparent nutrition information, investing in and promoting healthier

food options, and reducing the amount of added sugar and salt in their products. Ultimately, it is
the responsibility of both the food industry and individuals to prioritize healthy eating habits and

promote a culture of health and wellness.

 Works Cited

Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Nutrition." Center for Science in the Public Interest,

n.d., https://cspinet.org/tip/nutrition. Accessed 5 Apr. 2023.

Fed Up. Directed by Stephanie Soechtig, performances by Katie Couric and Bill Clinton, Atlas

Films.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Role of the Food Industry in

Health Promotion in the United States: Workshop Summary. The National Academies

Press, 2018.

Sugar Coated. Directed by Michèle Hozer, performances by Dr. Robert Lustig and Dr. Yoni

Freedhoff, TVO.
 Outline

A. Hook: Picture this: it's dinnertime in a typical American household. The parents are just

getting home from work, the kids are coming back from their extracurricular activities, and

everyone's starving. In a rush to put food on the table, the family turns to quick and convenient

options: frozen pizzas, canned soups, boxed mac and cheese, and sugary drinks. While these

meals may be satisfying in the moment, they often lack the nutrients our bodies need to thrive,

contributing to a nationwide health crisis. But is it fair to blame the families alone for their

unhealthy choices, or should the food industry also be held accountable for their role in

promoting and profiting from these products?

B. Introduce topic: The rise of obesity and health-related issues is a growing concern, and many

people wonder who should be held accountable.

C. Thesis: The food industry plays a significant role in shaping food choices and promoting

unhealthy products, and they should be held responsible for the obesity and health epidemic.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Main Idea #1: The food industry promotes unhealthy products that contribute to obesity and

other health problems.

1. Sub-point #1: The food industry heavily markets sugary drinks and snacks, which are

high in calories and contribute to obesity.

a. Evidence: "Beverage companies spend $3.2 billion annually on advertising in the

United States, with the majority of that budget going toward sugary drinks."

(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, p. 22)

 b. Follow up sentence: This means that families are bombarded with persuasive

messages and attractive branding that make sugary drinks seem like a normal and

desirable part of daily life, despite their well-documented negative effects on

health.

2. Sub-point #2: The food industry uses deceptive labeling and advertising to make

unhealthy products appear healthy.

a. Evidence: "Companies use health claims on their products to make them seem

healthy when they are not. For example, products that are high in sugar, such as

cereals and snacks, are marketed as being a good source of vitamins and

minerals." (Center for Science in the Public Interest, n.d., para. 7)

b. Follow up sentence: This deceptive labeling is just one of the ways in which the

food industry prioritizes profits over public health, luring consumers into

purchasing products that may actually contribute to weight gain and other health

issues.

3. Sub-point #3: The food industry resists government regulation and efforts to improve

food quality and nutrition.

a. Evidence: "The food industry has lobbied against government regulation and has

successfully blocked efforts to improve food quality and nutrition. The industry

has also lobbied to prevent the regulation of portion sizes and calorie labeling."

(Sugar Coated, 2015)

b. Follow up sentence: This resistance to regulation is particularly concerning given

the extensive research linking high levels of added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats
 to a range of chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease,

and cancer.

4. Conclusion for the body paragraph: The food industry's promotion of unhealthy products

contributes to the obesity epidemic, and they should be held responsible for their actions.

B. Main Idea #2: The food industry should take responsibility for promoting unhealthy products

and contribute to the solution.

1. Sub-point #1: The food industry should be more transparent about the ingredients and

nutrition information of their products.

a. Evidence: "The food industry should be more transparent about the ingredients

they use and their impact on health. This includes providing clear and concise

nutrition information, including added sugars, on food labels and menus."

(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, p. 29)

b. Follow up Sentence: By providing accurate and transparent nutrition information,

consumers can make informed decisions about what they eat and avoid hidden

sources of unhealthy ingredients like added sugars and excessive sodium. This

would also incentivize food companies to prioritize healthier ingredients and

recipe formulations.

2. Sub-point #2: The food industry should invest in and promote healthier food options.

a. Evidence: "The food industry can play a significant role in promoting healthier

foods by investing in research and development of healthier products and by

making those products more affordable and accessible to consumers." (Sugar

Coated, 2015)
 b. Follow up Sentence: Currently, many low-income communities lack access to

fresh and healthy food options, which contributes to the obesity epidemic. By

investing in and promoting healthier food options, food companies can make a

positive impact on public health and help to reduce health disparities.

Additionally, promoting healthier options can help to shift consumer preferences

and drive demand for healthier options in the market.

3. Sub-point #3: The food industry should support government regulations to improve food

quality and nutrition.

a. Evidence: "The food industry should support government regulations aimed at

improving food quality and nutrition, including calorie labeling, portion size

regulations, and restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children." (Center

for Science in the Public Interest, n.d., para. 9)

b. Follow up Sentence: By advocating for such measures, the food industry can

demonstrate its commitment to promoting public health and reducing the

prevalence of obesity and related chronic diseases, rather than prioritizing profits

over people.

C. Main Idea #3: Food industry's contribution to addiction to sugar and salt

a. Evidence: "The food industry has taken advantage of our biology to create products that

are scientifically engineered to be irresistible" (Sugar Coated).

b. Follow-up sentence: They have used sugar and salt to create products that trigger

addiction and overconsumption, contributing to the rise in obesity and related health

problems.
D. Main Idea #4: The food industry's lobbying practices to protect their interests

a. Evidence: "The food industry spends billions of dollars on lobbying and marketing to

protect their profits and ensure that government policies are favorable to their interests"

(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine).

b. Follow-up sentence: This has resulted in the government's failure to regulate the food

industry adequately, leading to an increase in unhealthy food consumption and obesity.

E. Main Idea #5: The food industry's responsibility to promote healthier options

a. Evidence: "Food companies can play a vital role in promoting healthier eating patterns by

reformulating products to be healthier, developing new products, and promoting healthier

products" (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine).

b. Follow-up sentence: The food industry must take responsibility for the role it plays in

promoting unhealthy food consumption and work towards providing healthier options.

V. Conclusion

A. Restate Thesis: The food industry's contribution to the obesity and health epidemic is

significant, and it must be held accountable for the role it plays in creating and promoting

unhealthy foods.

B. Summary of Main Points: The food industry's introduction of high-calorie foods lacking in

nutritional value, contribution to addiction to sugar and salt, lobbying practices, and

responsibility to promote healthier options all point to its significant role in the obesity and

health epidemic.
C. Implications: The food industry must prioritize the health of its consumers over its profits and

work towards promoting healthier options, reformulating products to be healthier, and ensuring

government policies favor healthy eating patterns.

D. Call to Action: It is time for the food industry to take responsibility for its role in the obesity

and health epidemic and work towards creating a healthier food environment for everyone.
 Annotated Bibliography

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). The Role of the Food

Industry in Health Promotion in the United States: Workshop Summary. Washington,

DC: The National Academies Press.

This document summarizes a workshop that brought together experts in the field to

discuss the role of the food industry in promoting health in the United States. It provides insights

into the ways in which the food industry can help or hinder efforts to promote health, as well as

recommendations for improving collaboration between the industry and public health advocates.

The National Academies Press is a well-respected publisher of scientific and policy-oriented

works, and the document can be considered a reliable source for information on this topic.

Enserink, M. (2018, May 16). The Food Industry's Influence In Nutrition Research. NPR.

This article from NPR explores the potential influence of the food industry on nutrition

research and its implications for public health. The author, Martin Enserink, is a science

correspondent for NPR, and his reporting is generally well-regarded. NPR is a reputable news

organization that has won numerous awards for its journalism, and the article can be considered a

reliable source for information on this topic.

Center for Science in the Public Interest. (n.d.). Nutrition. https://cspinet.org/nutrition

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a nonprofit organization that advocates for

healthier food and a safer food supply. Their website provides a range of resources on nutrition

and the food industry, including reports, fact sheets, and news articles. The organization has been

around since 1971 and is well-respected in the public health community. Their website can be

considered a reliable source for information on this topic.

Fed Up. (2014). [Documentary film]. Atlas Films.

Fed Up is a documentary film that explores the role of the food industry in the obesity

epidemic in the United States. The film features interviews with experts in the field, including

public health advocates and industry representatives. The film was produced by Atlas Films and

can be considered a reliable source of information on this topic.

Sugar Coated. (2015). [Documentary film]. TVO.

Sugar Coated is a documentary film that explores the sugar industry's influence on public

health and the obesity epidemic. The film features interviews with experts in the field and

provides a critical look at the sugar industry's marketing tactics. The film was produced by TVO,

a publicly-funded television network in Canada, and can be considered a reliable source of

information on this topic.

The Science of Nutrition. (n.d.). University of British Columbia.

https://www.edx.org/course/science-of-nutrition

The Science of Nutrition is a free online course offered by the University of British

Columbia that explores the science of nutrition and its impact on health. The course covers topics

such as food marketing, food policy, and public health. The course is hosted on edX, an online

learning platform that partners with universities to offer free courses to learners around the

world. The course can be considered a reliable source of information on this topic.