67 pages • 2 hours read
Michael MossSalt Sugar Fat
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2013A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Michael Moss
The author describes his own experiences and expresses his own opinions throughout the book. He displays himself as a representative of consumer interests, while also having enough scientific and business understanding to interface with food industry and government. Moss is a journalist, and has written for national newspapers.
Howard Moscowitz
Howard Moscowitz is a food scientist. He pioneered numerous key innovations in the industry. These include the “bliss point,” at which taste finds its peak, as well as preference groupings, such as weak, medium, and strong coffee. He considers his research scientifically valuable, and disclaims moral responsibility for obesity and health problems resulting from excess consumption. As with many other food scientists, he does not consume significant amounts of the products helped to make.
Hamish Maxwell
Hamish Maxwell, CEO of Philip Morris as the company acquires Kraft and General Foods, appears throughout the book. He takes on a senior role, guiding the transition from a tobacco company into a conglomerate facing different public scrutiny.
Geoffrey Bible
Geoffrey Bible, CEO of Philip Morris at another time, oversees many of the food operations. He addresses public-health concerns over food after the company has acquired Kraft and General Foods.
Al Clausi
Al Clausi is a food scientist. He developed numerous famous foods, including Tang and Jell-O. Clausi now thinks that the food industry should use healthier ingredients.
Charles Mortimer
Charles Mortimer produced the notion of convenience foods, and coined the term “Modern Living.” Through his work as a marketer at General Foods, he led the transition in the American diet from homecooked meals to industrially-produced snacks.
James Behnke
James Behnke is a former Pillsbury executive. He has doubts about the direction of the food industry, worrying about the health effects of key ingredients. Behnke is one of the food industry insiders portrayed more favorably.
Jeffrey Dunn
Jeffrey Dunn is a former Coca-Cola president. He follows in the footsteps of his father, who also worked for Coke. However, Dunn struggles with his conscience. Through reading, talking with his wife, and seeing the poor neighborhoods in Brazil that the company targets, Dunn realizes the harm caused by soda. He pushes the company to produce healthier beverages, then, outside the company, he develops nutritional foods. Moss portrays Dunn as one of the most sympathetic food industry insiders.
