Stomach Share: Why the Food Industry Wants You to Eat More

Why can’t we stop eating certain foods?

People nowadays are eating an extraordinary range of ultra-processed foods. These foods are the by- product of incredible scientific advances. Created by scientists and sold to us by witty marketeers.

Why do people love ultra-processed foods? because they are SUPER in different ways: super delicious, super convenient, super lasting, and super cheap.

But - we will continue that part later! For now, the food industry has an economic imperative to sell us more food.

The food producers do not just want a proportion of your stomach but they want a proportion of all stomachs when they design and sell food .

Big Food Industries have coined the phrase that defines this quest: “Stomach Share”, which is the amount of digestive space a company can grab from the competition.

Food manufacturers intentionally use sugary, salty, and fatty foods to get everyone hooked on inexpensive products you’ll buy over and over again.

Their food engineers optimize products to arrive at the bliss point!

You reach the bliss point when the sensory profile where sugar, fat, and salt act synergistically trigger the brain’s reward mechanism to make you want more ultra-processed foods.

The consequences? More stomach share, more health risks!

As ultra-processed foods capture more of your daily intake, the impact on health becomes undeniable.

A plethora of scientific evidence has linked these industrially produced products to several chronic diseases.

How do you reclaim your stomach space back?

It’s not your fault that you are not able to resist ultra-processed foods. The fight against these industrially produced foods isn’t just about personal choice—it’s about systemic change.

“Ta ذغ iya” by Sarah Zahr

Change should most importantly include the implementation of higher taxes on sugary beverages, stricter food labeling laws, and restrictions on ultra-processed food advertising to children.

Ultra-processed food companies are banking on convenience, addiction, and aggressive marketing to claim more of your diets. After all, our stomachs should be filled with nutrient-dense food, not corporate strategies!

Touvier, M., da Costa Louzada, M. L., Mozaffarian, D., Baker, P., Juul, F., & Srour, B. (2023). Ultra- processed foods and cardiometabolic health: public health policies to reduce consumption cannot wait. bmj, 383.