Michael Pollan and experts warn that ultra-processed foods fuel chronic disease

Michael Pollan and former FDA commissioner David Kessler told 60 Minutes that ultra-processed foods drive obesity and related illnesses, urging people to choose whole foods and shop the grocery perimeter.

During a 60 Minutes interview, former FDA commissioner David Kessler warned that ultra-processed foods, laden with ingredients such as corn syrup and maltodextrin, have been undermining metabolism and causing a historic rise in chronic conditions like type-2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and cardiovascular events. He explained that these products stimulate brain reward circuits, leading to overeating and a lack of fullness.

Food writer Michael Pollan agreed, referencing a NIH inpatient trial in which subjects given only ultra-processed foods ate 500 more calories per day than those offered whole foods, attributing the excess to energy density and low fiber content. Pollan advised shoppers to stay on the supermarket perimeter where fresh produce and dairy are located, to prepare meals at home at least once a week, and to push for policy changes that subsidize nutritious calories.

The Consumer Brands Association defended its members, saying they innovate to meet demand and follow FDA science. The discussion highlighted the tension between convenience, cost and public health.