519. Fat, Sick, and Miserable: Nutrition and the State | Vani Hari

Vani Hari's transformation from a frequent fast-food consumer to a passionate food activist is a testament to the powers of personal experience and education in shaping one's mission in life.

Vani Hari's Childhood Health Struggles From Unhealthy Diet

Vani Hari grew up in an immigrant household that adopted the American fast-food diet, which led to a range of health issues during her childhood. She suffered from asthma, eczema, and dependency on multiple prescription drugs, including various medications to control her asthma ([restricted term], [restricted term], [restricted term]), [restricted term], and antibiotics for flare-ups three to four times a year, along with eczema creams.

Vani's Transformation After a Health Scare

Vani's Downfall at Consulting, Weight Gain, Appendectomy, Diet, and Health Re-evaluation

Vani's pursuit of a corporate career in consulting, characterized by the "wine and dine" culture on the road, exacerbated her poor health by leading to depression and weight gain. At 25, coping with severe work-related stress, she became dependent on prescription drugs such as [restricted term], [restricted term], and [restricted term]. This unhealthy lifestyle hit a breaking point when she was misdiagnosed and ended up requiring an emergency appendectomy. Hari realized the severity of her health issues when she faced a life-threatening emergency in the form of appendicitis.

Vani Linked Her Poor Health To Processed Foods, Igniting Her Clean Eating Passion

After her surgery, Hari thoroughly researched appendicitis and discovered it was related to inflammation and digestive system issues, which piqued her interest in nutrition. Ultimately, her poor health was traced back to her heavy consumption of processed foods. Upon switching her diet to natural, real foods, she experienced significant weight loss and no longer needed her prescriptions.

Vani's Choice to Become a Food Activist and Launch "Food Babe"

Vani Left Tv To Research and Write On Food Issues

This transformation did not remain a personal victory. Instead, Hari was propelled to educate ot ...

Jordan Peterson and Vani Hari discuss the growing health crisis in the United States, particularly the rise of obesity, diabetes, and diet-related diseases among children. They shed light on the role of the food industry in aggravating these health issues through the use of cheap, unhealthy ingredients and regulatory gaps.

Rising Obesity, Diabetes, and Diet-Related Diseases in US Children

Peterson notes the contrast between past physical appearances and the current state of obesity and diabetes, recalling a time when the occurrence of obesity in a classroom was rare, which starkly contrasts with today's norms.

Vani Hari then provides a disturbing statistic to illustrate this trend: 38% of pre-teens ages 12 to 18 are now pre-diabetic, up from a previous 0%. She underscores the need to examine the food supply and implement regulation to curb this trend, emphasizing the severity of diet-related diseases in US children.

How the Food Industry Aggravates Health Crises With Cheap, Unhealthy Ingredients

Food Companies Prioritize Profit, Using Engineered Flavors and Additives to Make Foods Addictive

Hari discusses how common food items like Cheetos and Doritos contain carcinogens and are readily available in public spaces, contributing to the persistence of unhealthy diets. She compares the tactics of food scientists to those of tobacco companies, creating additives and engineered flavors to make food seem complicated and addictive, ultimately prioritizing profit over consumer health.

Jordan Peterson echoes this sentiment, mentioning the ubiquity of corn syrup in the American diet, which has been perpetuated by government subsidies. Foods are intentionally designed with unhealthy ingredients to increase consumption and enhance profit margins.

Regulatory Gaps and Conflicts of Interest Enable Banned Ingredients in Food

Furthering the discussion, Hari mentions that American food supply chains have been engineered to encourage overconsumption. She relates how tobacco companies have used research from tobacco addiction to formulate food products after acquiring food companies like General Foods and Kraft.

She also points out the use of sophisticated technology, such as PepsiCo's taste-testi ...

Vani Hari and Jordan Peterson discuss the significant differences between U.S. and international food regulations, which lead to varying food formulations.

U.S. Versions of Food Products Use Unhealthier Ingredients

Vani Hari points out that it's often more cost-effective for food companies to use chemical additives rather than real ingredients, which allows products to have a longer shelf life. This trend is clear when comparing the formulations of certain food products in the U.S. to those abroad.

US Coke: Corn Syrup, International: Sugar

For example, Vani Hari questions why Coca-Cola in the United States contains high-fructose corn syrup made from genetically engineered corn, whereas in other countries, Coca-Cola is made with real sugar. This difference in ingredient choice demonstrates a notable distinction in the U.S. approach to food ingredients versus international practices.

EU and Others Have Stricter Food Additive Regulations Than US

Banned Chemicals Abroad Allowed In U.S. Food

Hari mentions that Kellogg's cereals in Canada, Australia, Europe, India, and almost everywhere else are made without certain additives that are included in the U.S. versions. Jordan Peterson acknowledges that Europe has stricter regulations and questions why companies are able to sell products in the U.S. with potentially harmful chemicals that are banned or restricted in Europe and Canada.

In Europe, for instance, products containing artificial food dyes must display warnings about the potential effects on children's activity and attention levels. Hari takes this further, suggesting that the stricter regulations in places like Europe and Canada could be contributing to lower obesity rates when compared to the U.S.

The ingredient azodicarbonamide, which Hari found in Subway's bread and is also used in the manufacturing of yoga mats and shoe rubber, isn't ...

Vani Hari's activism is driving significant changes in the food industry, with efforts to enhance food brands' ingredients, though she faces both support and significant resistance.

Vani's Drive to Enhance Food Brands' Ingredients

Vani Hari, better known by her online moniker “Food Babe,” has been influential in pushing for changes in the food industry.

Vani Influenced Chick-Fil-a's Menu and Kraft's International Ingredients

Hari's research on food ingredients and blog posts gained her attention and led to a viral article about Chick-fil-A. This article prompted Chick-fil-A to invite her to consult on their menu and ingredient changes. Additionally, Vani has pressured big food corporations to change their practices. She petitioned Kraft to address the issue of using different (and in some cases safer) ingredients in the United States compared to other countries.

Vani Faced Backlash and Threats for Her Confrontational Approach

Her confrontational approach hasn’t been without backlash. Vani used her testimony before the Senate as a foundation for a petition drop at Kellogg's headquarters, which resulted in a hostile response and denial of entry, contrasting Kraft's more positive engagement with her efforts. She has communicated with other companies like General Mills, who responded positively to her letters.

Consumer Movement and Community Pressure on the Food Industry

Vani’s activism has also highlighted the power of community pressure in instigating changes within the food industry.

Vani's "Food Babe Army" Grew, Taking the Fight for Healthier Food Nationally

Hari has not ...

The political and regulatory landscape surrounding the food industry is complex, with Vani Hari's recent Senate testimony highlighting the importance of a more informed public discourse.

Vani at Senate Roundtable on Food Issues Hosted by Senator Ron Johnson

Vani's Testimony on Food System Issues Gains National Attention At Roundtable

Vani Hari, known as the "Food Babe," has been a vocal food activist for over a decade. She took the national stage during a roundtable discussion on food issues hosted by Senator Ron Johnson, where she spoke candidly about the problems plaguing the food system. Senator Johnson allowed Hari to speak in an uncensored manner, and she used this opportunity to organize a petition drop at Kellogg's headquarters, which she announced at the roundtable. Set for October 15th, the event extended an invitation to the public and activists alike.

Jordan Peterson mentions that he met Vani Hari at the roundtable in Washington, which gained considerable national attention. Hari was initially reluctant to join the discussion due to past experiences with activism. However, after participating, her testimony became a focal point for a national conversation on food issues, inspiring a community that aims to hold companies accountable. She utilized her testimony as a narrative to confront Kellogg's about their ingredient practices and credited the roundtable as an impetus for this initiative.

Political Dynamics Of "Make America Healthy Again" Movement

Republicans, Not Left-Leaning Media, Focus More On Food Industry's Public Health Role

Unexpectedly, Hari and Peterson highlight the involvement of Republicans, like Senator Ron Johnson, in advocating food industry reforms. Hari expressed gratitude to Senator Johnson for his attitude towards health issues in the country. She was also taken aback by the bipartisan nature of the roundtable, which avoided partisan politics and instead focused on the more profound mission of saving humanity.

Hari noted with surprise that traditionally right-wing figures were calling on food activists to tackle large food companies' actions. She was intrigued by the presence of influential individuals like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and ...