Dirty business
The blurry line between health and marketing.
The average consumer is being played like a fiddle, and it’s been happening for decades.
Time and time again, companies declare something ‘healthy’, ‘safe’ and ‘effective’.
Years later the truth arrives, and it’s never pretty.
Here’s a collection of our ‘favourites’ from the last century.
It would be funny if people weren’t actually dying because of it.
Nestlé — Infant Formula (1903)
For over 100 years, Nestlé (and others) have been convincing parents around the world that bottle feeding is just as, or more nutritious than breast feeding.
Obviously, it’s not, but that hasn’t stopped them.
With the help of extensive marketing campaigns, and free samples, they were particularly successful in developing countries….
The result?
Countless infants suffered from nutrient deficiencies (formula is nutrient-bereft compared to breast milk) and were exposed to water-borne pathogens (clean water being hard to find in many poor countries).
“The reason for the progressive decline in breast-feeding is the massive propaganda of the milk companies which is particularly effective in poor sectors of the population. The milk companies are creating a magic belief in the white man's milk powder."
— Dr. J. Kreysler (WHO nutrition specialist)
Nestlé is home to many other preposterous ideas, like wanting to privatise your water supply.
Proctor & Gamble — Crisco (1919)
It turns out that margarines and hydrogenated trans fats (made from rancid plant/vegetable oils) aren’t so ‘wholesome’ and ‘heart-healthy’ after all—they literally cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many other things.
We should have stuck with the fats that humans have been consuming for millions of years (animal fats).
Nestlé — Vitamin Donuts (1942)
Here Nestlé goes again…
If you’re trying to get your vitamins from donuts, you’re doing it wrong.
This same strategy (take all the nutrients out, then inject some synthetic ones back in) is still used today.
The problem and solution in one neat package.
Penn Salt Chemicals — DDT (1947)
DDT was initially developed as an insecticide, and widely-used.
It is now a banned substance.
DDT was found to be an endocrine (hormonal) disruptor, caused growth/developmental abnormalities, and is now listed as ‘probably carcinogenic in humans’.
Not exactly ‘a benefactor for all humanity’ as promised.
P.S. We no longer spray DDT on our veggies, but make no mistake, we still use many other poisonous chemicals (glyphosate, atrazine etc.) in the production of industrial ‘food’.
P.P.S. These chemicals are only needed in the world of industrial plant agriculture (mono-crop grains, vegetables etc.). There is zero need for such a thing on small-scale farms that rear healthy animals (regenerative) or grow plant foods (true organic; biodynamic).
Lysol for your vagina (1948)
Another modern chemical ‘solution’ to a problem that didn’t previously exist.
Want to smell better?
Stop eating ultra-processed ‘food-like substances’.
Avoid conventional soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, mouthwashes, moisturisers, cleaning products etc., that nuke your microbiome.
Fix your gut.
Humans don’t tend to smell so bad when our gut is happy, and we’re not sweating out the toxic breakdown products of modern chemicals.
Du Pont Cellophane (1954)
The cheapest, lowest-quality things in life come in plastic.
Plastics contain xenoestrogens, which disrupt our endogenous hormones, and cause diseases, like infertility.
Camel Cigarettes (1948)
‘No adverse effects!’
Your doctor is probably not up-to-date on a few other things, like saturated fats / cholesterol, red meat, fibre… any nutrition or health information really.
7-Up for babies (1953)
‘Maybe we shouldn’t create physiological addiction and metabolic dysfunction in our children’… said nobody at the time.
When did long-term consequences (obesity, diabetes) become a short-term ‘treat’?
Coca-Cola (1961)
Incredible ‘logic’ right here.
Meanwhile, ultra-processed ‘food / drink’ is addictive, and causes chronic disease.
Body composition doesn’t boil down to calories—food quality is what matters most.
Chiffon Margarine (1971)
‘Please spread our industrial waste on your industrial toast; it’s ‘better’ for you and your children.’
Turns out it’s more like poison than food…
Creates inflammation
Causes mitochondrial dysfunction
Leads to multiple chronic diseases
You can’t actually fool Mother Nature.
Hopefully this helps you understand that many businesses, especially massive companies, will tell you anything in order to sell you anything.
Our interests (truth, health) are not aligned with theirs (profit, perception).
It’s disappointing that the people ultimately responsible for safeguarding our health and wellbeing (state ‘authorities’ and health ‘experts’) have failed to protect us from such interests.
Even our most basic of needs; like water, food, and household / personal care items, are seriously compromised.
This is why it’s important to think critically, independently—to do our own research.
Don’t just swallow the bait.