Food Fight: From Plunder and Profit to People and Planet

by Stuart Gillespie

'Scholarly, literate and deeply moving, this isn't just a good read, it's an essential reference for anyone hoping to understand the food system, why it's broken and how we might imagine fixing it' CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN

Food is life but our food system is killing us. Designed in a different century for a different purpose – to mass-produce cheap calories to prevent famine – it’s now generating obesity, ill-health and driving the climate crisis. We need to transform it into a system that can nourish all eight billion of us and the planet we live on.

In Food Fight, Stuart Gillespie reveals how the system we once relied upon for global nutrition has warped into the very thing making us sick. From its origins in colonial plunder through to the last few decades of neoliberalism, the system now lies in the tight grip of a handful of powerful transnationals who are playing for profit at any cost – aided by governments who let them get away with it. With his eye trained on the future and on solutions within our grasp, Gillespie also celebrates the impact of success stories from around the world, driven by remarkable citizens, social movements, policy makers and politicians. These case studies offer hope that, by organising and learning, we can build a better food future for ourselves and for our children.

Both unflinching exposé and revolutionary call to arms, Food Fight maps a way towards a new system that gives us hope for a future of global health and justice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Environment, Audiobook

368 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although interesting, I did find this very dense, and the audio read by Stuart, was a little monotone as well. You may give up before the second half of the book, as it seems like almost nothing is good or going good in this 'food fight' but he does finally go on about things that can be done, yet in reality, not in the vein of what 'we' can really do - that is, the 'normal people' as it is more about how the big business, governments and corporations are running the food world, and in the end, it will probably up to them to fix the mess that they have created, which is a shame. Although 'suitable' for teens, I don't think they could stick it out reading this book. More suitable for people willing to listen to the ideas, which are good, but will interest those only who are into the 'food fight' and the politics behind it.

[Mat Greener · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real eye opener about the harm that big food companies have done 5 are still doing including being complicit in millions of deaths to turning a blind eye to slave labour. I am a number nerd but even I found at times the statistics were too heavy felt like reading a scientific paper but saying that when you digest the figures they are scary.As a result of this book I will try to avoid Nestle products . This was something I had heard other people saying but never realised / heard all the facts.
Food is definitely a problem up there with alcohol, opioids, tobacco & gambling

[Edward Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and argued though not for me. I follow the space a bit so was not surprised by anything. Additionally the author’s passion for the topic came through. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and probably makes the story great - but, knowing the background it came across preachy. That said, I still rate the book highly as it is a good survey of how the food system works. I do not know if it will persuade, say a regular joe coke drinker. But I don’t know if they will even pick this up to begin with.

[Tlalli Uribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't all too sure what I would be reading, but I was in for a true revelation. I am Mexican, and I had no idea of the conflict of interest that President Fox had going into government. I am furious. How did this happen?! Stuart, if you read this, thank you. I needed to know this. I wholeheartedly believe our capitalism, neoliberalist mode of production, needs to change for this world to improve.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now the wealthy barons have taken over our food system, yet again profit over the best interests of the population. They are making us ill with the over processed food and corrupt systems. An important discussion on how we can fix our food system

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life-changing.

I consider myself quite food-aware, but it was shocking to read first-hand revelations about how far the Big Food lobby really goes to get us all hooked since day one on the planet.

My book of the year so far.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book everyone should read