From Lunchables to ‘Low Fat’: How Food is Designed to Keep You Hooked

What if your health choices aren’t really your own? Join us as we explore the powerful ways for-profit interests work to shape what we eat, drink and believe through product design, marketing and public policy influence. From tobacco to ultra-processed foods, industries have long leveraged science, psychology and messaging to drive consumption and decision-making, often at the expense of public health. Eva Zaret, MPH, of Central Vermont Medical Center breaks down the development and evolution of these profit-driven systems: from sugar research funded by corporate interests that reshaped nutrition science, to engineered foods designed to maximize cravings and consumption. You’ll also hear how companies work to shift responsibility onto individuals through “personal choice” narratives that can be misleading. And how everyday environments, from grocery store shelves to social media, are carefully curated to influence behavior and decision-making. This episode challenges you to think about the hidden forces at play, and rethink what it really means to make healthy choices.