Business
The Snack Attack: Are Major Food Brands Making Kids Addicted?
By Christof Plothe, DO
A lawsuit has just dropped that could send shockwaves through your pantry.
Eleven major food manufacturers including Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé are accused of engineering their ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to be downright addictive, while marketing these tasty ‘treats’ directly to our kids. Sounds like a plot twist right out of a movie, doesn’t it?
The drama unfolds in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, where a brave plaintiff, Bryce Martinez, claims that his exposure to these sugary, salty foods led him to develop type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at the tender age of 16. As his complaint states, “Due to Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiff regularly, frequently, and chronically ingested their UPF, which caused him to contract Type 2 Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.”
The lawsuit draws comparisons to the notorious marketing tactics of ‘big tobacco’. Public health expert Carlos Monteiro, who coined the term UPF, is sounding the alarm, saying that food companies are using the same underhanded strategies to hook kids on their products. With the food industry reportedly spending a staggering $2 billion each year to market these processed foods to children, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow.
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The lawsuit, which includes Conagra Brands among the accused, alleges that these companies are not just selling food, they are selling addiction. Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, and others were approached for comment but have remained tight-lipped about the allegations.
A plateful of addictive substances
We’re talking about a food landscape in the U.S. where 73% of what’s on the plate is ultra-processed. This isn’t just a health concern for adults; studies show that a whopping 67% of American children’s diets are made up of these foods, with many displaying signs of addiction.
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As this legal battle heats up, we might just witness a seismic shift in how these companies advertise their products. Could we see warning labels on our favorite snacks? Or maybe a complete overhaul of their marketing strategies? Only time will tell!
Stay tuned, because this is one story that’s just getting started and with the changes in the US health politics that seem to be in the pipeline, we see a “better way” for the health of our children.
Sources:
https://www.
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/
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MxM News
Quick Hit:
The Trump administration is investigating the Biden administration’s policy of mass poultry culling in response to bird flu, which led to the slaughter of 100 million chickens and skyrocketing egg prices. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced new efforts to lower costs and explore alternative containment strategies.
Key Details:
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a plan to combat high egg prices, blaming Obama-era overregulation for the crisis.
- The Trump administration is reviewing whether mass culling is necessary and launching pilot programs to test alternative methods.
- Short-term relief efforts include importing eggs, though Rollins emphasized domestic solutions as the priority.
Diving Deeper:
The Trump administration is investigating the Biden administration’s handling of the bird flu crisis, specifically the decision to slaughter over 100 million chickens in an effort to contain the virus. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the inquiry during an appearance on America’s Newsroom, where she also introduced a new plan aimed at stabilizing egg prices.
The mass culling policy, which led to devastating losses for poultry farmers, was implemented during the Biden administration under federal guidelines that mandated widespread slaughter whenever bird flu outbreaks were detected. The move, coupled with supply chain disruptions, sent egg prices soaring in recent years. Rollins criticized the policy as part of a broader pattern of overregulation dating back to the Obama administration.
“When you go back to the long road of overregulation, it really started under President Obama,” Rollins said. “The result has been farmers struggling, higher food prices, and ultimately, policies that aren’t even proving effective.”
Rollins confirmed that the Trump administration is researching whether a shift in policy could mitigate outbreaks without resorting to mass culling. She revealed that pilot programs would be launched in select farms across the country to test alternative containment strategies.
“The avian flu spreads rapidly, and in many cases, the chickens succumb within days. But we are working with farmers who are willing to try new approaches,” she explained.
While the administration pursues long-term solutions, Rollins said they are taking immediate action by increasing egg imports to offset supply shortages. However, she emphasized that relying on foreign eggs is not a sustainable fix.
“This is about getting prices down now, but we are committed to ensuring America’s farmers are in the best position to supply our own food,” Rollins stated.
The Trump administration’s investigation into the Biden-era policies could lead to a shift in how the U.S. handles future avian flu outbreaks. With food prices remaining a top concern for American families, the administration is making it clear that restoring affordability and protecting farmers is a top priority.
From LifeSiteNews
Trump said in his first cabinet meeting that his administration will soon begin placing tariffs on products from the countries of the EU, accusing the European Union of cheating the US.
President Donald Trump blasted the European Union during the first cabinet meeting of his new administration, saying that “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it.”
“I love the countries of Europe,” Trump began, “but the European Union was formed to screw the United States.”
“Let’s be honest. The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States,” he reemphasized. “That’s the purpose of it.”
“And they’ve done a good job of it,” he said, before warning: “But now I’m president.”
Trump said that his administration will soon begin placing tariffs on the products of the countries of the EU.
Asked if he expected the EU to retaliate if the U.S. imposes stiff tariffs, Trump said: “They can’t. I mean they can try, but they can’t.”
“We are the pot of gold,” he explained. “We’re the one that everybody wants, and they can retaliate, but it cannot be a successful retaliation, because we just go cold turkey, we don’t buy any more, and if that happens, we win.”
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