Trust in Big Pharma and Big Food
For a long time, many of us placed our faith in the pharmaceutical industry and the safety of grocery store products. We generally took it for granted that approved items on the shelves were safe to consume.
But it appears that the illusion was largely successful.
We’re now starting to uncover how closely intertwined Big Pharma and Big Food are in their efforts to keep Americans unhealthy and dependent.
Recently, on a podcast, Glenn Beck spoke with fitness expert Jillian Michaels about the troubling connections among what she calls the “disastrous quartet” of Big Food, Big Farm, Big Pharma, and Big Insurance that ensnares us.
Michaels suggests that not everyone in the food and medical industries is deliberately aiming to harm Americans. While some top executives might have ulterior motives, most of the individuals working in these fields likely entered them with the intention to help.
“Machines need profits, and they report to Wall Street. So profits are essential. Most people are just cogs in that machine. I don’t think they mean harm, but they can easily get caught up in the system,” she states, recognizing that many people join these sectors out of a desire to “save the world” and address hunger.
Sadly, this often leads to a necessity to “pay up,” which can result in urging consumers to buy more soda and snacks.
Glenn nods in agreement, mentioning that the U.S. has “fed the world” largely due to the advancements made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) aimed at enhancing the growth and nutrition of plants and animals.
“It started off well, but then things took a turn,” he notes.
Michaels unveils that she is currently writing a book focused on how food policies and the interests of Big Agriculture, Big Pharma, and Big Insurance have twisted and exploited well-meaning regulations.
“This is incredibly egregious; good intentions have ended up in the hands of people who manipulate them, using them as weapons against the American populace,” she emphasizes.
Foods meant to nourish us are now, in reality, harmful, and medicines designed for healing are worsening our conditions.
She highlights Howard Moskowitz, a food scientist who introduced the concept of the “bliss point” in the 1970s.
The bliss point identifies the ideal balance of fat, sugar, and salt that triggers cravings, making Moskowitz an expert in food manipulation, which is a major factor in skyrocketing obesity rates.
“Something pretty outrageous is happening,” Michaels comments.
His research has transformed into a collaboration of scientists, behaviorists, and marketers working tirelessly to develop strategies that keep people reaching for more food.
“It’s more than just a catchphrase. It’s a business model,” she says.
This paves the way for pharmaceutical companies to create costly weight-loss medications like Ozempic, which increases a hormone prompting people to eat less.
However, now that these weight-loss drugs are helping individuals reduce their consumption of additives, food companies are scrambling to find ways to circumvent the hormonal pathways introduced by GLP-1.
“This is concerning!” Glenn reacts.
“This is an ongoing issue, and it has been for years,” Michaels replies.
If you want more insights from this discussion, check out the full interview above.
