Alice Callahan

And what you see in the 1980s and 1990s is that more and more of these ultra processed foods were also hyper palatable. And that seemed to be driven by the tobacco companies. They were maybe a little bit ahead of the other companies in cracking that hyper palatability code. But by the 2010s, basically, all of the food companies kind of get on board and bring their products up to speed.

And what you see in the 1980s and 1990s is that more and more of these ultra processed foods were also hyper palatable. And that seemed to be driven by the tobacco companies. They were maybe a little bit ahead of the other companies in cracking that hyper palatability code. But by the 2010s, basically, all of the food companies kind of get on board and bring their products up to speed.

Yeah, there do seem to be some parallels there. And they take off not just in the U.S., but, you know, all around the world.

Yeah, there do seem to be some parallels there. And they take off not just in the U.S., but, you know, all around the world.

And meanwhile, obesity rates are also rising. So in the U.S., for example, our childhood obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s. Tripled. Right. So it's become a huge problem. And we see this same thing happening in countries all around the world, although we may be a leader in this regard.

And meanwhile, obesity rates are also rising. So in the U.S., for example, our childhood obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s. Tripled. Right. So it's become a huge problem. And we see this same thing happening in countries all around the world, although we may be a leader in this regard.

And so this is where we turn from a story about the business of food to a story about health and science because scientists are alarmed. They're scrambling to figure out why people around the world are gaining weight. Is it that we're not getting enough exercise or is it our nutrition? Are we consuming too many carbohydrates or too much fat or not enough protein?

And so this is where we turn from a story about the business of food to a story about health and science because scientists are alarmed. They're scrambling to figure out why people around the world are gaining weight. Is it that we're not getting enough exercise or is it our nutrition? Are we consuming too many carbohydrates or too much fat or not enough protein?

But there's this one scientist who, in Brazil named Carlos Monteiro, who starts to look at this question a little bit differently. In his country, he notices that people are consuming less traditional foods like rice and beans and more foods like instant noodles and sausages. And so in 2009, he is the one who actually coins this term, ultra-processed food.

But there's this one scientist who, in Brazil named Carlos Monteiro, who starts to look at this question a little bit differently. In his country, he notices that people are consuming less traditional foods like rice and beans and more foods like instant noodles and sausages. And so in 2009, he is the one who actually coins this term, ultra-processed food.

And he creates a system to sort foods from unprocessed to ultra-processed. And so in creating this definition, Carlos Montero and his colleagues are now able to quantify how much of the food system is coming from these foods and how has it changed over time. And that allows them to study whether or not it's linked to obesity.

And he creates a system to sort foods from unprocessed to ultra-processed. And so in creating this definition, Carlos Montero and his colleagues are now able to quantify how much of the food system is coming from these foods and how has it changed over time. And that allows them to study whether or not it's linked to obesity.

And they find, indeed, in Brazil, as ultra-processed food consumption goes up, so does obesity increase. Other scientists around the world are like, oh, wow, this is an interesting way of looking at diet and health.

And they find, indeed, in Brazil, as ultra-processed food consumption goes up, so does obesity increase. Other scientists around the world are like, oh, wow, this is an interesting way of looking at diet and health.

And they start to see the same link between ultra-processed foods and obesity, as well as other chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer. And so this appears to be kind of a major breakthrough in our understanding of diet and health.

And they start to see the same link between ultra-processed foods and obesity, as well as other chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer. And so this appears to be kind of a major breakthrough in our understanding of diet and health.

But proving that ultra-processed food is causing those health conditions turns out to be a lot trickier than you might imagine.

But proving that ultra-processed food is causing those health conditions turns out to be a lot trickier than you might imagine.

How is it? It's really good.

How is it? It's really good.