Boris Johnson
- Thread starter Once a Wheeler
- Start date
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Fab Foodie
Legendary Member
Very interesting. In some respects it counters the argument presented in the TV program as the same food processors/manufacturers are across Europe and thus their UPFs should have had similar obseity impacts across eg France. Or other factors are coming into play in which case there are additional factors beyond taste/appeal of the UPFs.
Ian
Fab Foodie
Legendary Member
No, unfortunately I missed your link.
I can only speak with certainty from my own experience, people I've met/worked with. I also said that the industry it's not perfect, but nor is it as broadly Machiavellian as it's made out to be either....
matticus
Guru
As it's you m'dear, I've done the homework for you:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025gqs/irresistible-why-we-cant-stop-eating
You really should watch it. There is stone-cold evidence in there. Not just stats, or the opinions of "experts". Actual documents from the food companies.
glasgowcyclist
Über Member
It really is worth watching. It’s available on iPlayer for a year.
All uphill
Well-Known Member
I have worked for two big food companies.
In the first (American origin) the clear and explicit marketing strategy was to target families who are already large consumers of "popular catering" (fast food). Eg Turn five 'events' a week into ten.
In the second (British origin) there was an explicit strategy of meeting the tastes of the widest audience.
So, on that limited evidence, I wonder if some of the difference in obesity between UK and France is that we look to the USA?
AuroraSaab
Squire
Has Europe embraced the fast food shop like the UK has? Every other shop is a takeaway round here. Been a while since I've been to France or Germany but my impression is they weren't as prevalent. I agree, Britain has been quicker to adopt US fast food tastes I think, eg burgers and fried chicken.
glasgowcyclist
Über Member
I think that’s a completely different thing. I just want my guests to enjoy my food, not buy it!
Food companies aren’t giving away free grub. They want profit and that comes from more sales, so they make stuff they know people will buy, whether or not it’s good for them. Everything from the design of the packaging, the textures, flavours, mouth feel, even the sounds of food (snap, crackle and pop?) plays a part in driving up sales. The industry spends millions analysing which aspects of food trigger pleasure responses in the brain so they can design their products to exploit them.
I accept they don’t want to poison us but they don’t care as much about personal health as they do earnings.
Rusty Nails
Country Member
And the generations before that raised the generation that created the society that let people create the society we live in today….I blame Adam and Eve for starting it all.
I hope future generations do not go on blaming something as conveniently amorphous as whole generations for the future problems of the world. Assuming that there will always be problems in this world of fallible people.
S
"slow horse" aka "another sam"
Guest
I'm moved to blame the unmoved mover.
bobzmyunkle
Senior Member
It might not have been better 50 years ago, but it was a lot easier to be optimistic it would be better in the future.
Rusty Nails
Country Member
Curses, I thought I’d got away with it.
BoldonLad
Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
- Location
- South Tyneside
Depends what you mean by "the current generation".
As per @Fab Foodie, above, the 1970's was a period of change in lifestyles, both work and "play". It was also when people like myself entered the "parent game" (born 1947, first child 1972). The current generation, in my view, are my grandchildren (born 2000's).
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