What do readers think of Stuffed by Hank Cardello & Doug Garr? Write your own review.

Hank Cardello – a former executive at some of America’s largest food giants – gives us an insider’s look at how the food industry through clever marketing and manipulation, has super-sized the American diet all of reasonable proportion and made it practically impossible for the consumer to resist. Nutritional science has been trumped by profit. Though some things are obvious – product placement on store shelves, for example – the reader will learn of numerous other practices designed to make you buy and consume more. My favorite was – “Sullivan’s Nod” – used by restaurant wait-staff to persuade you to choose the most expensive item on the menu. There is a thought provoking discussion of vending machines in our schools, how they got there and what their future might be. Cardello also points out the need for personal responsibility on the part of the consumer in the choices they make and lays out a concrete plan of action to make America’s food healthier and then make the healthier food both available and desirable to consumers

Stuffed is an absolute delight. Cardello, a former executive in the food industry presents the history of our “improved” foods and their role in the current obesity crisis. He shows how profit has been more important than nutrition. His language, with his flashes of humor is straightforward and easy reading. Everyone concerned with the obesity problem of adults and more so of children will find Stuffed well worth the read.

On the whole, I liked this book. The author let me see how cause and effect have impacted health and body size. It certainly opened my eyes to the world of food and the choices made. It isn't something I would have selected at first but the title intrigued me. I think it would be a good book club choice because the culprits listed would cause a lot of discussion.

Initially, I didn't think I would be all that impressed with this book because it's a lot of the same information I've already heard in other books and documentaries, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover interesting behind the scenes facts from the advertising point of view in the food industry.

This book is not a difficult read, and it contains many interesting anecdotes. Yet, many of the topics have already been covered as well or better by other writers. The author ought to have better organized the book, and even title, around the angle that makes his take different: not simply as someone with decades of experience in the food and food marketing industries, but even more as someone who thinks the food industry is not only the problem, but also the only hope of a solution (and thus, the author's own organization, the Global Business Obesity Forum).

In the end, however, I do not share the author's faith that this industry will make the necessary changes largely on its own, without much greater pressure from government and consumers. And I am skeptical of his positioning himself in the middle, between what he takes to be extreme viewpoints, especially when he (wrongly) equates a food industry lobbyist/marketer (Rick Berman) with a consumer/health advocate (Michael Jacobson, of the Center for Science in the Public Interest). This book contributes to the discussion, but should be read critically.

I couldn't believe some of the stubbornness and money hungry attitudes of food manufacturers about changing the business of food production in order to get a more healthy product. This book will really open your eyes!

When I first started reading it made me angry that America is stuck in such a rut and we as individuals really have no choice in the matter. But I really like that Cardello has some very innovative and positive ideas about how to change this problem. If only we can get the higher-ups to listen to what he has to say.

Fast food isn't the only thing that's not healthy for us. I will definitely be reading more labels from now on and with more insight as to what to look for. I would have liked to know more about what I, an ordinary consumer, can do to help with this problem. But I also think that knowledge is the first step and if enough people read this book maybe things will start to turn around. In my opinion it is a very interesting and thought provoking read.

"Stuffed" was well-written and researched, engaging and informative. Although I have been well aware of the manipulation of the public by the food industry, I had thought of it only in terms of advertising. Cardello makes it clear that advertising is only the tip of the iceberg. But I particularly appreciated the fact that he did not just indict the food industry. He discussed solutions that are in the market or in development as well as coming up with viable, logical solutions for the problems they had created which did not rely strictly on the consumer exercising greater self-discipline and address the bottom line for the participants in the industry.

When I first picked up this book, I felt I knew who was "stuffing" us. We are stuffing ourselves. Of course, we are, but it's not that simple and we shouldn't take on all the guilt.

Naturally, if something doesn't taste good, we're not tempted to eat it. But what makes it taste good? Usually FAT and sugar. Comfort food almost always contains one or both of these culprits. But how can food manufacturing companies make a product taste good and also be good for us? They really are trying to do just that. This is the premise of this informative and easily readable book.

Not by banning "bad" foods, but by making them more healthy. I was relieved to know there are successful companies who are researching our obesity problem just as some energy companies are researching viable alternative energy sources. If you want to read about some good news for a change, this will fit the bill.