#319 - Eduardo J. Gómez on JUNK FOOD POLITICS

Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Health Policy and Politics at Lehigh University Eduardo J. Gómez chats with Trey Elling about JUNK FOOD POLITICS: HOW BEVERAGE AND FAST FOOD INDUSTRIES ARE RESHAPING EMERGING ECONOMIES. Topics include: The book's inspiration (0:52) Why he focused on Mexico, Brazil, India, Indonesia, China, and South Africa (4:10) What he means by 'junk food industry' (5:15) How junk food politics is a two-way street (6:21) How the junk food industry is operating on its own fear (7:22) NAFTA's influence on the rise of junk food consumption in Mexico (10:33) Why these countries' presidents allow junk food to sway public health policy (12:19) Whether Mexico's soda & junk food tax has helped (16:09) Coca Cola exploiting feminism in India (18:18) Why junk food consumption exploded in Brazil in the mid-1990s (19:49) Junk food's influence on Brazil's Zero Fome public health campaign (23:11) The role of India's agricultural sector and food production in its junk food problems (25:59) India's history of malnourishment harming parents' perception of what makes for a healthy kid (27:33) India's attempts to limit junk food around schools (29:55) Coca Cola's roller coaster historical relationship with China (33:11) Snacking as a reflection of China's unique history (35:20) Big Junk Food's blatant marketing to kids in China (36:36) Coca Cola embedding itself into China's academic community (38:40) Nelson Mandela's initial hostility toward Coca Cola in the early 1990s (39:49) Indonesia unique relationship with junk foods& beverages (44:06) The Indonesian government's revolving door problem (46:29) A country that does a good job combatting junk food politics for the good of public health (47:22) Whether Eduardo is optimistic or pessimistic about the future (52:12)