A review by amylee218
Stuffed: An Insider's Look at Who's (Really) Making America Fat by Doug Garr, Hank Cardello

3.0

I had a mixed reaction to this book. The beginning, which talked about the history of how our modern processed food system evolved, was interesting. It was when he spoke of proposed solutions that I started to disagree. Probably because I fundamentally agree with him on what constitutes a healthy food or drink. When he asked if a parent should give their child a sugar-sweetened soda or an artificially-sweetened one that has fewer calories, my reaction was why are you giving your child either one? I also have a bit of an issue with his idea of adding things to foods and not telling the consumer. Adding soybean husks to a food to lower fat and cholesterol may seem benign, until someone with an allergy unknowingly consumes it and has a reaction. I get the appeal of Stealth Health (used it on my kids all the time) but there are limits to what should be done to our food behind our backs. Also, while I do agree that the big food processors/restaurants need to make changes, I think that his approach takes personal responsibility away from the consumers who are eating this food.