What do you think?
Rate this book
Big Fat Food Fraud: Confessions of a Health-Food Hustler
“In his rollicking, unabashed, and sometimes shocking book, Jeff Scot Philips offers an unprecedented inside look at how labels can be manipulated, regulators can be fooled, and how consumer gatekeepers—from personal trainers to nutritionists—sell high-margin ‘health food’ to an unsuspecting public that wants to lose weight.” —Oz Garcia, bestselling author of Redesigning 50 and The Balance
—Why are you are you eating diet foods and getting fatter?
—Why do you still have cellulite even though you eat “healthy”?
—Why don’t you know what you are eating, even when you read the label?
—Why does the obesity rate in America keep climbing, even though the weight-loss market is a $300 billion industry?
It is because food manufacturers, the media, nutritionists, trainers, medical professionals, health inspectors, and people like Jeff Scot Philips collude for profits and big fat food liars.
—Why are you are you eating diet foods and getting fatter?
—Why do you still have cellulite even though you eat “healthy”?
—Why don’t you know what you are eating, even when you read the label?
—Why does the obesity rate in America keep climbing, even though the weight-loss market is a $300 billion industry?
It is because food manufacturers, the media, nutritionists, trainers, medical professionals, health inspectors, and people like Jeff Scot Philips collude for profits and big fat food liars.
- GenresNonfictionHealthFood
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2016
10 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 17, 2016
(I received this book as part of a giveaway program on this site.)
Here are the things that Jeff Scot Phillips wants you to take away from his book, roughly in order:
-Jeff Scot Phillips is amazing. He's a great businessman and he cares about his customers and he's in great shape and he has lots of sex with attractive women.
-You should give Jeff Scot Phillips your money, preferably in exchange for his dietary or fitness services.
-Other diet or nutrition companies are bogus, largely because capitalist corporate executives only care about profiteering.
Here are the things that I actually took away from his book:
-Entrepreneurship is depressing and entrepreneurs are all at least slightly crazy.
-Jeff Scot Phillips is probably not a virgin. Probably.
-Diet and nutrition companies are mostly or entirely bogus, largely because capitalist corporate executives only care about profiteering.
There. Now you don't have to read the book yourself. You're welcome.
Here are the things that Jeff Scot Phillips wants you to take away from his book, roughly in order:
-Jeff Scot Phillips is amazing. He's a great businessman and he cares about his customers and he's in great shape and he has lots of sex with attractive women.
-You should give Jeff Scot Phillips your money, preferably in exchange for his dietary or fitness services.
-Other diet or nutrition companies are bogus, largely because capitalist corporate executives only care about profiteering.
Here are the things that I actually took away from his book:
-Entrepreneurship is depressing and entrepreneurs are all at least slightly crazy.
-Jeff Scot Phillips is probably not a virgin. Probably.
-Diet and nutrition companies are mostly or entirely bogus, largely because capitalist corporate executives only care about profiteering.
There. Now you don't have to read the book yourself. You're welcome.
December 20, 2016
If you are thinking of buying this book, DON'T. If you've bought this book, DUMP IT IN THE GARBAGE.
I read the first four chapters or so, and got so completely annoyed and disgusted with the stories this egomaniac related about his business, his trysts with women, and his supposed "discoveries" about weight loss that I for real took the book and slam-dunked it into the garbage. I learned NOTHING about the health food industry while reading those few chapters.
I wanted information about the food industry. I didn't want tawdry stories about this man's sexual escapades. Even if he may have provided the slightest bit of information that could have been worth reading later on in the book, it wasn't worth slogging through the bad writing and the soap-opera-style fiction that he provided.
I read the first four chapters or so, and got so completely annoyed and disgusted with the stories this egomaniac related about his business, his trysts with women, and his supposed "discoveries" about weight loss that I for real took the book and slam-dunked it into the garbage. I learned NOTHING about the health food industry while reading those few chapters.
I wanted information about the food industry. I didn't want tawdry stories about this man's sexual escapades. Even if he may have provided the slightest bit of information that could have been worth reading later on in the book, it wasn't worth slogging through the bad writing and the soap-opera-style fiction that he provided.
April 6, 2020
People said that don’t judge the book by its cover. So I didn’t, even though the captions and its title on the cover seems to be very eye-catching. What caught my attention to read this book is its Prologue section. Managed to read the whole section before picking it up from the library shelf.
It’s very convincing and intriguing to know how consumers are being tricked by these health food companies. However, until halfway of the storyline, all he talked about was how he built his food business. Some of them I found quite irrelevant such as I don’t want to know what his first chef was cooking that day and the second one injured herself while cutting veggies.
He also shared how he was “forced” to had sex with people who were selling his products to other gyms. Which again, wasted my time only to find out that the premise that he’s been promising from the cover was at chapter 8 instead from the beginning point of the story.
In addition to that, the stuff that he shared weren’t as explosive or controversial I thought it was. It simply can be searched on the internet. So don’t waste your time in reading this if you’re looking for any kinds of big secrets hid by the health food companies.
It’s very convincing and intriguing to know how consumers are being tricked by these health food companies. However, until halfway of the storyline, all he talked about was how he built his food business. Some of them I found quite irrelevant such as I don’t want to know what his first chef was cooking that day and the second one injured herself while cutting veggies.
He also shared how he was “forced” to had sex with people who were selling his products to other gyms. Which again, wasted my time only to find out that the premise that he’s been promising from the cover was at chapter 8 instead from the beginning point of the story.
In addition to that, the stuff that he shared weren’t as explosive or controversial I thought it was. It simply can be searched on the internet. So don’t waste your time in reading this if you’re looking for any kinds of big secrets hid by the health food companies.
January 13, 2023
There are a lot of harsh reviews of this book on this site. Factually, they're not inaccurate.
The problem here is that the cover writes a cheque that the book itself fails to cash. Much like the food products the author was selling, what's on the outside is very misleading about what's on the inside.
I was expecting something similar to the book, "Salt. Sugar. Fat." This is mostly an autobiography. It's not a horrible book. If I was given this book without the cover, title or jacket artwork, I probably would have appreciated it more, because it would not have set a false expectation, and that's why I have no problem giving it 3 stars (maybe slightly generous, but 2 is too punitive) - it's not a bad book, it's just not what it says it is.
The conclusion itself actually summarizes the insights of the author very nicely and probably IS worth reading if the topic interests you and don't want to read the whole book.
The problem here is that the cover writes a cheque that the book itself fails to cash. Much like the food products the author was selling, what's on the outside is very misleading about what's on the inside.
I was expecting something similar to the book, "Salt. Sugar. Fat." This is mostly an autobiography. It's not a horrible book. If I was given this book without the cover, title or jacket artwork, I probably would have appreciated it more, because it would not have set a false expectation, and that's why I have no problem giving it 3 stars (maybe slightly generous, but 2 is too punitive) - it's not a bad book, it's just not what it says it is.
The conclusion itself actually summarizes the insights of the author very nicely and probably IS worth reading if the topic interests you and don't want to read the whole book.
January 11, 2017
I picked this up thinking it would give a good insight to our food industry but I was wrong.
Now, I will say that it teaches how to run industrial commercial kitchens in buildings and areas not zoned for this activity. How can you do this you may ask? According to the book you bribe the code officers and the health inspectors. You also sleep with the inspector's wife so she doesn't turn you in.
This book also teaches how to trade sex for sales quotas, how to become an alcoholic, how to go Broke, and cheat, lie, and get rich again. Oh and there are actually 12 pages of helpful information on diet fraud.
Now, I will say that it teaches how to run industrial commercial kitchens in buildings and areas not zoned for this activity. How can you do this you may ask? According to the book you bribe the code officers and the health inspectors. You also sleep with the inspector's wife so she doesn't turn you in.
This book also teaches how to trade sex for sales quotas, how to become an alcoholic, how to go Broke, and cheat, lie, and get rich again. Oh and there are actually 12 pages of helpful information on diet fraud.
May 10, 2018
This book is not worth the effort. I picked it up to read because of the 'confessions of a health food hustler on the jacket cover. I and my family work out a lot and while we eat mostly non processed for we do use protein powders, sports drinks and energy bars. I thought the book might share relevant information about those foods. the book is mostly about his amoral behaviour regarding women, budding alcoholism and unethical business practices and the people in the 'health food industry' and their shady upselling ways. So some miniscule amount of info. Since the author appears to be a consummate liar really who wants to believe him when he talks about no reform or why he sold his business except for the last few bits of his last chapter. Not worth the read. Fortunately didn't spend money on it.
June 11, 2019
Fascinating details about my favorite conspiracy "theory" - they ARE INDEED trying to make us fat and sick...... read quite a few parts to hubby.
unsure the sex was needed in this story, but it was important to his telling I guess, but I didn't need all the details....
Anyway, I read it right through and I will buy it for reference as he had a lot important to say - just packaged it in a mass-media concept - which ended up working but left me wanting more info...
anyway, another library book eval, amazon the next stop as there's a lot in it I want to pass on to people..... I will read it again to make sure I got it all.
unsure the sex was needed in this story, but it was important to his telling I guess, but I didn't need all the details....
Anyway, I read it right through and I will buy it for reference as he had a lot important to say - just packaged it in a mass-media concept - which ended up working but left me wanting more info...
anyway, another library book eval, amazon the next stop as there's a lot in it I want to pass on to people..... I will read it again to make sure I got it all.
August 20, 2018
"Once we've added sugar to make our seafood healthy, the USDA doesn't care what we do with it next - we don't even have to mention any of the ingredients!"
My biggest problem with this book was the writing style. Jeff Scot Philips wrote this book in what seems to be an attempt to make himself look good despite the fact that he knowingly did terrible things even though they were technically legal. Not only does he come off as incredibly arrogant (the way he talks to his staff, the way we're supposed to believe these conversations happened word-for-word the way they're presented in this book, the way that he knowingly drove drunk multiple times but it's okay because he got it wiped from his record by manipulating someone so that's cool! And in case you don't know he has lots of unprotected sex with various women, sometimes against his will and it's important to note this at every possible opportunity!) but the way these ideas are presented to us comes across poorly. The writing sounds like a conversation with a dude that's way too full of himself and he's doing 95% of the talking.
When Jeff knows that things are going poorly and people are being manipulated by his food company he doesn't do anything to stop it. And yet he still tries to make himself look like a victim. And he obnoxiously describes how every woman in this book looks but doesn't bother going into that detail with the men. But he does think it's funny when Mickey gets locked in the walk in or can't get to his inhaler. And the way these stories are shared are supposed to make Jeff seem human, I imagine, but I just found it off putting.
The concept is an intriguing one - that we're being lied to and manipulated into choosing foods that aren't good for our bodies and this man is coming forward with his involvement in that deception. But I personally don't think Jeff was the one to tell this story. Especially without an apology and an ending that makes it seem like by coming forward he should be trusted again by people wanting health guidance.
There isn't any information in this book about the health food world that isn't available somewhere else. I wasn't a fan and wouldn't want anyone else to waste their time on this read.
My biggest problem with this book was the writing style. Jeff Scot Philips wrote this book in what seems to be an attempt to make himself look good despite the fact that he knowingly did terrible things even though they were technically legal. Not only does he come off as incredibly arrogant (the way he talks to his staff, the way we're supposed to believe these conversations happened word-for-word the way they're presented in this book, the way that he knowingly drove drunk multiple times but it's okay because he got it wiped from his record by manipulating someone so that's cool! And in case you don't know he has lots of unprotected sex with various women, sometimes against his will and it's important to note this at every possible opportunity!) but the way these ideas are presented to us comes across poorly. The writing sounds like a conversation with a dude that's way too full of himself and he's doing 95% of the talking.
When Jeff knows that things are going poorly and people are being manipulated by his food company he doesn't do anything to stop it. And yet he still tries to make himself look like a victim. And he obnoxiously describes how every woman in this book looks but doesn't bother going into that detail with the men. But he does think it's funny when Mickey gets locked in the walk in or can't get to his inhaler. And the way these stories are shared are supposed to make Jeff seem human, I imagine, but I just found it off putting.
The concept is an intriguing one - that we're being lied to and manipulated into choosing foods that aren't good for our bodies and this man is coming forward with his involvement in that deception. But I personally don't think Jeff was the one to tell this story. Especially without an apology and an ending that makes it seem like by coming forward he should be trusted again by people wanting health guidance.
There isn't any information in this book about the health food world that isn't available somewhere else. I wasn't a fan and wouldn't want anyone else to waste their time on this read.
July 7, 2017
I picked this up on a whim at the library because the title and cover intrigued me. But it wasn't long before I was disappointed. Most of the book is written in dialogue that's hard to believe took place, and everything pointing to how great the author is. I knew I wouldn't like him in real life so I had a hard time appreciating his voice. I ended up skimming big parts of the book, hoping for real insights. He finally breaks things down around page 143, and through his conversations he shows how manipulative the health food industry is. I enjoyed his final presentation and overall message, but it's largely information you can find elsewhere from a less terrible author.
August 7, 2017
A look inside the US food industry. Hopefully Canadian legislation is different! The book shows how easy it is to manipulate labels on food, by using techniques such as increasing serving size portions, not listing some ingredients on the label, or labeling foods as fat/sugar/gluten free when the foods don't include these ingredients. The scariest thing was when he gave consumers a choice between packaged foods such as granola bars, and real foods like fruit---and they actually chose the packaged foods!
May 13, 2019
I picked this up for my long-standing concern about what I eat & drink etc., and thinking it would be a big expose of the various diets and the pros & cons. Wrong!
This is rather a tale of another great idea perverted to meet the greed-needs of Wall Street.
The best course is to prepare your own foods if you live in the USA; food labels do not necessarily communicate all of the information about a given product and some manufacturers actively mislead their customers.
This is rather a tale of another great idea perverted to meet the greed-needs of Wall Street.
The best course is to prepare your own foods if you live in the USA; food labels do not necessarily communicate all of the information about a given product and some manufacturers actively mislead their customers.
May 6, 2017
It took a while to get to the point of the book. Once it did though the point was needle sharp. I found this interesting, engaging, informative, and entertaining.
To use the metaphor in the book, it had a few too many bread crumbs at the start but once you get to the second half then you've got a full satisfying meal.
To use the metaphor in the book, it had a few too many bread crumbs at the start but once you get to the second half then you've got a full satisfying meal.
May 12, 2017
Quick, easy, and approachable read that serves as a great introduction for unsuspecting consumers. I consider myself well read on the industry and learned a few dirty tricks and secrets from this one.
August 24, 2017
not enough intrigue or facts on the actual topic....keeps "the food industry is lying to you" at a minimum and the author's sex expeditions and own lying for profit (which are not interesting) so he can gloat about being part of a corrupt system.
September 13, 2017
Think The Wolf of Wall Street only in the diet industry. I won't kid you though, the book isn't as good as Wolf. The author is definitely....confident? Self absorbed? It was a very eye opening book. It really made we question what I am unwittingly putting in my body.
January 31, 2020
This was less of a book about food fraud and more of a braggarts journey through business. Take it as fluffy entertainment and it will be ok. If you are expecting to learn about the food industry, there are much better books out there.
February 8, 2018
Salacious, shallow, and self-aggrandizing. A quick read but not really worth your time.
December 6, 2016
An interesting read that is both funny and sad. Written more like a novel and a non-fiction expose, this book chronicles the adventures of a self proclaimed health food insider. Sadly most of his health food advise comes from the "governator" (Mr Schwarzenegger) and is pretty vague in terms of its content (i.e. you won't really learn what it means to eat "healthy" reading this book). Its more about the ways and means that big health food companies get around actually needing to produce healthy food and instead give people "what they want" (which it food that is convenient and tastes good whether healthy or not).
Warning: contains vulgar language, violence and gratuitous sex.
Warning: contains vulgar language, violence and gratuitous sex.
November 14, 2016
This is a book by a salesman, and the whole time I was reading it, I felt like I was being sold a bill of goods. The endless "look I'm so cool" moments with the "but I'm really on your side" pleas made the reading fast, but shallow. About once a chapter, Philips will introduce a nugget of information on how the health food/weight loss/food inspection Hydra works, and it was interesting to see the smaller logistics in practice. By the time I got to the end, I was skipping the filler to get to these more substantial pieces.
February 6, 2017
I hate giving bad reviews but I can't come up with anything positive to say about this book. This isn't an expose on the food industry as much as an eye-roll inducing account of the author's uninteresting and I'm guessing often exaggerated exploits/sexploits. Much like the food he packaged the promises on the cover didn't match what was inside.
November 8, 2016
Wow I put the chips ahoy thins, so much less fattening, away and made a bowl of grapes. This book made me think about how we justify our bad eating choices. It was informative without being dull. However, I think the cougar was wishful thinking.
October 10, 2019
Self indulgent. Narcissistic. Up it’s own ass. One of the few books I’ve ever had to stop reading because it induced a special kind of rage. Spouts poorly worded “facts” with very few scientific papers to back the ridiculous claims. Don’t bother.
October 25, 2016
Docking a star for shitting on veggie people but otherwise I loved this.
November 4, 2016
Great read.
More autobiographical than informative, but well worth the time spent. Doesn't do a lot for your trust in the agencies tasked with protecting the consumer!
More autobiographical than informative, but well worth the time spent. Doesn't do a lot for your trust in the agencies tasked with protecting the consumer!
April 1, 2017
Full of misinformation and false bravado.
April 5, 2017
I've seen this book get a lot of mixed reviews. I think some people expected it to be a chaste, scientific expose of the diet food industry when really it was more memoir-like. The book follows Phillips' foray into the diet food industry giving the reader an inside look at the deceptive practice these pushers use to get unsuspecting dieters to purchase certain foods. The book is vulgar at times and includes profanity and sexual situations (which made it way more interesting to read, in my opinion.) Yes, Phillips seems like a complete egomaniac and I'm sure he painted himself to look more favorably in certain situations. Do I want to hang out with the guy? Not really. Do I want to read what he knows about the health food industry? Yes. I think the biggest problem with this book was the marketing -- the book should've been categorized as a memoir and not led people to believe it was chock-full of scientific revelations about healthy junk food.
I also think a lot of the people leaving negative reviews are no doubt those who currently sell things like Shakeology, replacement shakes, Advocare, etc, anyone who's ever bought one of his 'fit foods' or even his former partners/employees. I really enjoyed the book and appreciated the author calling BS on the gluten-free, GMO, "health" food BS that is completely overwhelming and confusing the masses.
I also think a lot of the people leaving negative reviews are no doubt those who currently sell things like Shakeology, replacement shakes, Advocare, etc, anyone who's ever bought one of his 'fit foods' or even his former partners/employees. I really enjoyed the book and appreciated the author calling BS on the gluten-free, GMO, "health" food BS that is completely overwhelming and confusing the masses.
April 11, 2017
Basically, read pages 142 to end of the chapter and you will have read everything you need to know. Although a very sad attempt at story telling, I do appreciate the bluntness and honestly regarding the food label tricks, even it the info was limited.
August 13, 2017
There was some really interesting and eye opening information here, but unfortunately I found it far too embroiled in his personal story which seemed "jazzed up" to make it more exciting, when really it detracted from the better stuff. Bottom line and lessons learned: be a critical thinker and consumed. Always.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews