Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Popular attitudes toward nutrition have been influenced by a variety of psychological, social, historical, and political factors. Foods frequently have reputations for health that have little to do with their nutrient content. Similarly, food nutrients (for example, dietary fat) often have reputations that are not in agreement with the established science concerning that particular nutrient. Bad Foods explores factors that influence our attitudes about healthy eating in the United States today." "As Oakes demonstrates, a variety of historical or political events and personalities have shaped our current views of good nutrition. On several occasions in American history concerns have arisen over the safety of our food supply (e.g., harmful ingredients in processed foods) and the potential that processing might deplete foods of their nutrients. These concerns help explain how food characteristics such as freshness, natural, organic, and unprocessed have become important to Americans." "While some readers may be startled by what they perceive to be a challenge to sacred beliefs about foods, others will see the honesty in both the research and the writing and recognize the social benefits of examining our beliefs about foods. Bad Foods will be of interest to sociologists, food science specialists, and social historians."--Jacket.

SACFinal081324