Short Stuff: Bliss Point

In this episode of Short Stuff, Josh and Chuck delve into the concept of the "Bliss Point," a food science discovery by Howard Moskowitz that explains how food companies engineer junk food to be excessively palatable and addictive by optimizing the balance of fat, sugar, and salt. They discuss the alarming increase in sugar consumption over the past century due to processed foods and explore how the absence of protein in junk food contributes to overeating. The hosts also touch upon "vanishing caloric density," a characteristic of certain foods like Cheetos that tricks the brain into not registering calorie intake, and share anecdotes about their personal struggles with resisting such engineered foods. They further discuss the extensive taste testing processes involved in creating popular products like Prego Chunky sauce and Dr. Pepper, and how Oreo uses limited-edition flavors to boost sales of their original cookies.