Life After TV Dinners (Timeline of when we turned to processed foods)

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1950's        Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Rice Krispies, and Trix cereal introduced (46.6% sugar)

                   Swanson TV dinners, Cheez Whiz, Sweet n' Low, and Diet Rite (first diet soda) was invented

1960's        1 in 4 potatoes eaten in US is frozen, dehydrated, or canned
                   Cool Whip, Spaghettios, Tang, Tab, Diet Pepsi, and Gatorade hit the market

                   Aluminum cans were introduced for food and beverages

                   Irradiation was used for the first time to stop sprouting and to control insect infestations

1970's        High fructose corn syrup became increasingly prevalent in processed food & beverages                                             Soft drink consumption passed coffee and milk
                  McDonald's Happy Meals were introduced

                  "Lite" products were introduced since Americas started to gain much more weight

​1980's        First genetically engineered crop plant (tomato) was developed 

                   FDA approved the artificial sweetener, Aspartame 

                   USDA announced that ketchup could be counted as a vegetable in school lunch program

                   Pop Secret microwave popcorn, Lean Cuisine frozen foods, Diet Coke, & Crystal Light are introduced 

                   Red M&Ms return after being banned for 11 years due to the suspected cancer dangers of Red Dye #2

​1990's        First genetically modified foods GMO's) became available on the market​

                   Folic acid was now added to packaged foods and beverages

                   Introduced potato chips containing Olestra

2000's       GMO crops dominate the market

                  Food allergies such as corn, wheat, dairy, peanuts and soy (especially in children) on the rise as more                          GMO's hit the market 

                  Food manufacturers maintain flavor by adding more chemicals to food in the form of preservatives,                                artificial flavors, and sweeteners.

                  Pesticides and herbicides are rampant in our foods

​                  Four biotech seed companies (with Monsanto leading the way) dominate the food industry

​​                      * Own 40% of the U.S. corn and soybean seed markets

                      * Own 80% of the U.S. corn market

                      * Own 70% of the soybean business

                      * Control more than half the world's seed supply

              
In the 1950’s there were fewer than 1000 processed foods in the world.  Today, there are tens of thousands, and the use of additives has increased more than ten-fold in the last 40 years.​

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                    Most Commonly Consumed                                       “Vegetables”

1.  Iceberg Lettuce (least nutritional value

      of all the lettuces)

2.  French Fries (NOT a vegetable)

3.  Ketchup (NOT a vegetable even though the FDA

      announced in the 1980's that ketchup could be

     counted as a  vegetable in school lunch programs).​​​

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​            The Most Commonly      Consumed Food in United States:

1.  Coffee

2.  Hot Dogs

3.  White Bread

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* F.Y.I. None of these should actually

  be considered food.