Is Our Food Killing Us?

Chronic obesity is on the rise; our food is laced with additives and chemicals; and the environment is being devastated by factory farming, pesticides, fertilisers, and monoculture. It is time to re-evaluate what we eat and how we eat it, and rethink the practices of agribusiness, food processing manufacturers, and supermarkets.

This insightful volume unpacks the growth of obesogenic environments in which fast-food outlets proliferate. A diet heavy in saturated fats, refined sugars, and ultra-processed foods is increasing the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as behavioural disorders and allergies.

It explores how our bodies and brains respond to different flavours and food groups, and the ways in which corporations have exploited this through the creation of hyperpalatable food products that deliver a sensory 'bliss point' while withholding nutritional value. Additionally, it discusses how these corporations market their products to maximise profit at the expense of public health.

The book examines the disastrous impact of modern agribusiness on climate change, biodiversity loss, and antibiotic resistance. It also analyses the controversy around the safety and regulation of genetically modified crops, their impact on farming communities, and their potential to bring about food shortages.

Finally, Is Our Food Killing Us? carefully evaluates solutions to regaining a healthier relationship with food. These solutions include eating organic produce, reintroducing family meals, changing how we buy food, and adopting a plant-based diet.

With 150 illustrations in colour.