Hooked by Michael Moss Summary

Hooked exposes how major food corporations exploit addiction science to engineer hyper-palatable processed foods. Pulitzer-winning journalist Michael Moss reveals industry tactics like deploying 56 sugar varieties, manipulating brain chemistry via fMRI-tested recipes, and rebranding junk food as "diet-friendly." The book ties legal loopholes, deceptive marketing, and cutting-edge food science to today’s obesity and health crises.

This book is essential for health-conscious consumers, nutrition professionals, and policy advocates. It’s ideal for readers seeking to understand food addiction mechanics, corporate marketing strategies, or the science behind cravings. Those interested in public health battles akin to Big Tobacco litigation will find its investigative depth compelling.

Yes—Hooked offers a rigorously researched exposé backed by internal industry documents and neuroscience. Moss’s findings, like processed foods triggering faster dopamine responses than cocaine, provide actionable insights for making informed dietary choices. It’s praised for its balance of scientific rigor and narrative readability.

Moss argues processed foods hijack evolutionary survival mechanisms: sugar activates the brain’s reward system within 0.5 seconds, while salt/fat combinations override satiety signals. Studies cited show these foods surpass drugs/alcohol in addictiveness for 10-20% of people, with industry-engineered “bliss points” ensuring repeat consumption.

The book details how food giants use 56 sugar variants to optimize addiction potential. For example, Moss reveals how “vanilla Frosty” formulations target specific dopamine receptors, while “diet” products maintain sweetness with alternative additives that still trigger cravings.

Moss uncovers tactics like funding biased nutrition studies, lobbying against stricter labeling laws, and using terms like “whole grain” on products containing minimal healthy ingredients. Companies mimic Big Tobacco’s playbook by disputing addiction research they privately acknowledge.

Moss critiques “diet” rebranding as deceptive: low-fat ice cream often has near-identical calories to regular versions, while “protein bars” may contain more sugar than candy. These products leverage health trends without addressing addictive properties, ensuring sustained sales.

While Salt Sugar Fat focused on ingredient-level manipulation, Hooked delves deeper into neuroscience and addiction parallels. It expands on marketing tactics post-2013, including social media targeting and “stealth health” campaigns that mask unhealthy products.

The book highlights corporate suppression of addiction research, exploitation of child-targeted advertising, and manipulation of serving sizes to mislead consumers. Moss documents how lobbyists shape USDA guidelines to favor processed foods.

With rising obesity and metabolic disease rates, Hooked explains why calorie-counting often fails: addictive food design overrides willpower. It’s critical for understanding 2025’s battlegrounds, like ultra-processed food taxes and TikTok marketing to teens.

Moss advocates policy changes—stricter labeling, junk food ad bans, and removing addictive additives from school meals. Individually, he suggests avoiding “hyper-palatable” combos (e.g., salted caramel) and opting for single-ingredient foods to reset taste preferences.

Case studies include a Brooklyn teen’s McDonald’s dependency leading to morbid obesity, Nestlé’s neuroimaging-driven cookie formulations, and Coca-Cola’s funding of exercise programs to offset soda criticism. These examples ground the science in tangible outcomes.