Regulating the Food Industry: An Aspirational Agenda

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus pandemic reveals an urgent need the marketing of ultra-processed "junk" food must be stopped. [...]the food industry has gotten away with pushing consumption of high-calorie, highly processed products-as often and in as many places as possible, and in increasingly large amounts-all in the name of profit.1 In this business-first food environment, obesity and its associated type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and, these days, severe outcomes from COVID-19, are collateral damage.2 Because poor health more strongly affects the most vulnerable members of society,3 public health advocates ought to be demanding immediate, forceful government action to discourage food industry production and marketing of unhealthful products. Obesity prevalence rose in parallel with increasing portion sizes.12 The low prices of ultra-processed foods also encourage overconsumption. Since 1980, the prices of all foods have risen with inflation, but those of soft drinks and snacks rose much less than average, whereas fruits and vegetables became relatively more expensive.13 Low food prices democratize eating in fast-food and other restaurants where portions are large and more calories are consumed. [...]in 2000, Michael Jacobson and I, recognizing the food industry's role in weight gain, recommended measures such as taxes and advertising restrictions that would improve the environment of food choice.18 In 2001, the Surgeon General called for obesity policies to reduce racial, ethnic, gender, and age disparities and stigma;to encourage food companies to provide foods and beverages in reasonable portion sizes;and examine its marketing practices (my emphasis).19 Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans explicitly target personal choice they advise individuals to reduce consumption of sugar, salt, and saturated fat. The 2020 objectives include modest goals for increasing the proportion of schools that exclude sugar-sweetened beverages and for increasing the number of states that provide incentives to retail outlets selling foods consistent with dietary guidelines.21 Current guidelines and health objectives not only ignore ultra-processed foods but also ignore three valiant but unsuccessful attempts to address the food industry's role in childhood obesity (an easier target than in adults).