Episode 11 How Food Companies Engineer Cravings The Bitter Truth About Food episode artwork

EPISODE · May 24, 2025 · 23 MIN

Episode 11 How Food Companies Engineer Cravings The Bitter Truth About Food

from The Bitter Truth About Food Podcast · host Brad Young

Today’s episode? It’s a big one, and we’re diving deep into a topic that affects every single one of us: how food companies engineer cravings. If you’ve ever felt an irresistible urge to grab a bag of chips, a fast-food burger, or that sugary treat sitting on your counter, it might not entirely be your fault. There’s a carefully crafted science behind these cravings, and food companies are spending millions of dollars to ensure their products are as addictive as possible, keeping you coming back for more. We’ll explore how these companies use a combination of psychological tricks and chemical engineering to hijack your taste buds and your brain. From the perfect balance of sugar, salt, and fat known as the “bliss point” to the textures that make foods feel satisfying and even the sounds of crunchiness that are scientifically designed to delight your senses, every detail is meticulously planned. And it doesn’t stop with the food itself. Packaging and advertising are crafted to spark emotional triggers and create associations that make their products almost impossible to resist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode? It’s a big one, and we’re diving deep into a topic that affects every single one of us: how food companies engineer cravings. If you’ve ever felt an irresistible urge to grab a bag of chips, a fast-food burger, or that sugary treat sitting on your counter, it might not entirely be your fault. There’s a carefully crafted science behind these cravings, and food companies are spending millions of dollars to ensure their products are as addictive as possible, keeping you coming back for more. We’ll explore how these companies use a combination of psychological tricks and chemical engineering to hijack your taste buds and your brain. From the perfect balance of sugar, salt, and fat known as the “bliss point” to the textures that make foods feel satisfying and even the sounds of crunchiness that are scientifically designed to delight your senses, every detail is meticulously planned. And it doesn’t stop with the food itself. Packaging and advertising are crafted to spark emotional triggers and create associations that make their products almost impossible to resist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episode 11 How Food Companies Engineer Cravings The Bitter Truth About Food

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This episode is 23 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 24, 2025.

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Today’s episode? It’s a big one, and we’re diving deep into a topic that affects every single one of us: how food companies engineer cravings. If you’ve ever felt an irresistible urge to grab a bag of chips, a fast-food burger, or that sugary treat...

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