A meticulously researched exposé that reveals how food giants engineered addiction into processed foods, though stronger on diagnosis than solutions.
What works
• Methodical investigative journalism approach using internal company documents and interviews with former food scientists rather than sensationalism
• Provides unprecedented access to the inner workings of major food corporations and their food science laboratories
• Structures the investigation clearly around the three titular ingredients (salt, sugar, fat) with substantial sections dedicated to each
• Reveals specific industry tactics like the "bliss point" engineering and use of brain imaging technology to understand neurological reward pathways
• Maintains relevance more than a decade after publication as processed food consumption continues to climb globally
What doesn't
• The review text appears to be incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence in the marketing section
• Focuses more narrowly on food science laboratories rather than examining the broader food ecosystem like comparable works