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Cakeism

They’re really trying to have it both ways:

What exactly is it that 14% of us are addicted to? Food that is high in refined carbohydrates and/or added fats. UPFs – which the authors define as “industrially produced foods containing ingredients not available in home kitchens” – are the main source of such food. Not all UPFs trigger addiction. Sweets and salty snacks, which are designed for pleasure (and therefore profit), are more likely to be addictive than, say, plant milks and meat alternatives, which are also ultra-processed but are designed for a purpose, in this case replacing animal products.

Things that are morally good aren’t addictive. But things that aren’t morally good are addictive. By whatever standard we decide to use as morality, of course. And it’s *our* standard not your.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to say that plant milks and meats aren’t addictive because they taste like shit?

22 thoughts on “Cakeism”

  1. “designed for pleasure (and therefore profit), are more likely to be addictive than, say, plant milks and meat alternatives, which are also ultra-processed but are designed for a purpose …”

    What a wonderful demonstration of neo-puritan, socialist shitbaggery.

  2. Yes. Pea milk was offered to me during lockdown, by a vegan place, the only cafe open around here. It is absolutely disgusting.

  3. I tried vegan ice cream once at a place in Lavenham. The guy behind the counter was really not impressed when I suggested it needed a bit more binder. It was incredibly crumbly, just not what you expect from an ice cream. The taste was fairly disgusting too.

  4. The mainstay of vegans, tofu, is an ultra processed food. So is soy sauce, tahu tempe and a bunch of other vegan foodstuffs.

    The ultraprocessed label is reserved for “stuff we don’t like”.

  5. A recent ‘meme’ has a rather portly bear announcing he is on a vegan diet. Consisting of three vegans a day.

  6. “Sweets and salty snacks, which are designed for pleasure (and therefore profit), are more likely to be addictive than, say, plant milks and meat alternatives, which are also ultra-processed but are designed for a purpose, in this case replacing animal products.”

    Did anyone not want a second slice of granny’s victoria sponge? The one she made from eggs, sugar, flour and milk?

    All of this is just women wanting to blame other people for them being fat. Their travel is all in a Nissan Qashqai, except for the 30 yards to the entrance of school, Sainsburys, work. They go out for lattes, cakes and come home and drink pinot grigio. These are the women who will sit waiting for a space outside Sainsburys rather than just driving 200 yards away, or park in the emergency area outside school.

    It’s the same reason that so many Yanks are fat. “Oh, it’s corn syrup”. No, it’s that you don’t move your fat arse once in a while.

  7. Bloke in North Dorset

    The Studies Show* podcast look in to the studies around UPF.

    I can’t quite remember the detail but, spoiler alert, most of it is absolute bollocks.

    There is one very good RCT don in the USA but the authors admit it has problems, not least the small sample size, short (1 month IIRC) duration and the preparation of the various meals. There was no evidence of addiction nor did the participants say that UPF made them want to eat more because they were easier to eat.

    *If you can put up with the blokey banter its quite good and goes in to a lot of detail about the problems around studies and trials in general.

  8. It’s the same reason that so many Yanks are fat. “Oh, it’s corn syrup”. No, it’s that you don’t move your fat arse once in a while.

    Thing is, though, you don’t need to exercise one jot to remain or become thin. You just need to stop eating UPF.

    In this example it literally is the corn syrup.

    Middle-age spread is entirely optional, and based solely on diet. Change the diet to just meat and eggs and I would defy anyone in middle age and beyond to become or remain any fatter than in their youth. All with no exercise. Also, any aches and pain and much decrepitude will largely disappear; with the expectation of vigorous health into old age.

  9. “Sweets and salty snacks, which are designed for pleasure (and therefore profit) . . . “

    So, the only good business is a bankrupt business. Explains a lot.

  10. wat, in my experience, it’s the quantity rather than the type of food that determines your weight.

    If you find you’re getting too blubbery, you just eat less. It’s helpful if you have to prepare the food yourself. Laziness is a great incentive to starvation.

  11. It’s funny how people think of vegan icecream as Horrible…

    Proper italian gelato doesn’t use milk, and is 100% vegan, unless you consider the opinion of the Extreme Nugganites.

    Fruit juice, water, and sugar to taste. Stirred on a really cold surface until you get the desired result.
    Milk or cream actually makes it harder to solidify…

    Then again… assuming any sanity to Veganism is… well…. Overly Optimistic.

  12. O/T, but I would really like to know whether any non Aussies are aware we’re having a referendum tomorrow on whether an Aboriginal advisory “Voice” should be added to our Constitution. The reason I ask is we’ve had lots of people lecturing us over the last six months or so about how the “international community” would be aghast if we don’t pass it. Just want to know if anyone knows or indeed cares, given that the readership here is international.

  13. The reason I ask is we’ve had lots of people lecturing us over the last six months or so about how the “international community” would be aghast if we don’t pass it.

    Heard of it, probably from the bogan. This particular part of the “international community” will be pissing himself laughing if it does pass.

  14. Grikath,

    “Fruit juice, water, and sugar to taste”

    Are you sure? That’s sorbet, isn’t it? I thought gelato was made with like ice cream, but lighter (and Wiki seems to be saying that too).

  15. Yes BiW, I suppose I have been bitching about it a bit.

    Needless to say I intend to vote NO. For the best of all reasons, experience. I was stupid enough to vote yes for the last one. The results proved I was a lazy bastard who didn’t bother to research the question.

    I resolved then to always vote no in referendums. And I’ll certainly vote no for this one tomorrow.

  16. PS I hope Boganboy is celebrating the referendum result. I reckon Charlie is now safe as head of the Australian state.

  17. Raising a glass in your general direction Boganboy. Not just a No, but a resounding “lost every state, even Victoria”, 60/40 overall No. Now we can concentrate on a tally doing something rather than setting up another useless department.

    BiW, thanks. You only heard about it from here? So much for the “world is watching” argument

  18. Dammit Ltw. There’s no grog in the house. So I can’t raise a glass to you in return. I always thought Tony Abbott had it right. Give the abos the dosh as credit. But stop them spending it on grog. I’m not surprised they didn’t like that approach.

    Yeah Chris. In case you’re wondering, I voted NO in the referendum about a republic as well.

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