Dumbing Down Society Part I: Foods, Beverages and Meds

Jun 28th, 2010 | Category: Vigilant Reports |667 Comments

Is there a deliberate effort by the government to dumb down the masses? The statement is hard to prove but there exists a great amount of data proving that the ruling elite not only tolerates, but effectively introduces policies that have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of the population. This series of articles looks at the many ways the modern man is being dumbed down. Part I looks at the poisons found in everyday foods, beverages and medications.

Image by deesillustration.com

The theme of dumbing-down and dehumanizing the masses are often discussed in articles on The Vigilant Citizen. Thepresence of those conceptsin popular culture are, however, only the outward and symbolic expression of the profound transformation happening in our society. Scientific data has been proving for years that governments around the world are tolerating the selling of many products which have a direct and negative effect on cognitive and physical health. As we will see in this article many everyday products cause brain damage, impaired judgment and even a lower IQ.

Is a dumber population something that is desired by the elite? Hitler once said How fortunate for the leaders that men do not think. An educated population knows its rights, understands the issues and takes action when it does not approve of what is going on. Judging by the incredible amount of data available on the subject, it seems that the elite want the exact opposite: an unhealthy, frightened, confused and sedated population. We will look at the effects of medication, pesticides, fluoride and aspartame on the human body and how those products are being pushed by people from inside the power structure.

Prescription Drug Abuse

America has witnessed during the last decades a staggering rise of drugs being prescribedto treat all kinds of problems. Children are particularly affected by this phenomenon. Since the 1990s, anever-rising proportion of American children are being diagnosed with illnesses such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and are prescribed mind-altering drugs, such as Ritalin.

The DEA has become alarmed by the tremendous increase in the prescribing of these drugs in recent years. Since 1990, prescriptions for methylphenidate have increased by 500 percent, while prescriptions for amphetamine for the same purpose have increased 400 percent. Now we see a situation in which from seven to ten percent of the nations boys are on these drugs at some point as well as a rising percentage of girls.- Source

Today, children who show too much energy, character or strength are being willfully sedated with powerful drugs which directly affect the way their brains function. Are we going in the right direction here?

Even if ADD is not a clearly defined and documented disorder it causes NO observable biological effects whatsoever children are still being diagnosed with the illness in great numbers. This raises important ethical questions.

Pediatricians as well as ethicists have also voiced their concerns in usage of these stimulants. In an article published in the New York Times, they have questioned the appropriateness of medicating children without a clear diagnosis in hopes that they do better in school. They also asked whether the drugs should be given to adults failing in their careers or are procrastinators. They question the worthy of this method.

This concern have also been voiced out in the January 2005 issue of Pediatrics in which the large discrepancies between pediatricians practice patterns and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for the assessment and treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was bought forth. The article also stated that because the medical community didnt come to a consensus on how to diagnose ADD/ADHD, they should not be making extensive decisions as to how to treat individuals who have been diagnosed with the disorder.

The usage of Ritalin at a young age breaks the psychological threshold people maintain towards the usage of prescription pills, which makes those children more likely to consume psychotropic drugs later in their lives. We should not be surprised to witness a dramatic increase of consumption of antidepressants in the years to come. The trend is already beginning:

In its study, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants.

The use of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs those that affect brain chemistry has skyrocketed over the last decade. Adult use of antidepressants almost tripled between the periods 1988-1994 and 1999-2000. Between 1995 and 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the use of these drugs rose 48 percent, the CDC reported.- Elizabeth Cohen, CNN

The use of prescription pills might be of a great help for specific and properly diagnosed cases. The pharmaceutical industry however, which has many friends in the highest levels of government, is pushing for the widespread use of psychiatric drugs within the public. Since 2002, a great number of pills claiming to fix all kinds of mental conditions have been marketed to the public, but many of those pills were approved for sale without proper research for side effects. Even worse: the side effects might have been known but hidden to the public. Below is a list of warnings issued on commonly sold psychiatric drugs. Some of those side effects are actually frightening as a pill should not be able to have that much power over the human brain. Think about it: Some drugs are subject to warnings because they can cause you to commit suicide?

2004

March 22: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that Prozac-like antidepressants (called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs) could cause anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, akathisia [severe restlessness], hypomania [abnormal excitement] and mania [psychosis characterized by exalted feelings,delusions of grandeur].

June: The Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian equivalent of the FDA, reported that the latest antipsychotic drugs could increase the risk of diabetes.

June: The FDA ordered that the packaging for the stimulant Adderall include a warning about sudden cardiovascular deaths, especially in children with underlying heart disease.

October 15: The FDA ordered its strongest black box label for antidepressants warning they could cause suicidal thoughts and actions in under those under 18 years old.

October 21: The New Zealand Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee recommended that older and newer antidepressants not be administered to patients less than 18 years of age because of the risk of suicide.

December 17: The FDA required packaging for the ADHD drug, Strattera, to advise that Severe liver damage may progress to liver failure resulting in death or the need for a liver transplant in a small percentage of patients.

2005

February 9: Health Canada, the Canadian counterpart of the FDA, suspended marketing of Adderall XR (Extended Release, given once a day) due to reports of 20 sudden unexplained deaths (14 in children) and 12 strokes (2 in children).

April 11: The FDA warned that antipsychotic drug use in elderly patients could increase the risk of death.

June 28: The FDA announced its intention to make labeling changes to Concerta and other Ritalin products to include the side effects: visual hallucinations, suicidal ideation [ideas], psychotic behavior, as well as aggression or violent behavior.

June 30: The FDA warned that the antidepressant Cymbalta could increase suicidal thinking or behavior in pediatric patients taking it. It also warned about the potential increased risk of suicidal behavior in adults taking antidepressants.

August: The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration found a relationship between antidepressants and suicidality, akathisia (severe restlessness), agitation, nervousness and anxiety in adults. Similar symptoms could occur during withdrawal from the drugs, it determined.

August 19: The European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products warned against child antidepressant use, stating that the drugs caused suicide attempts and thoughts, aggression, hostility, aggression, oppositional behavior and anger.

September 26: The Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (Italian Drug Agency, equivalent to the FDA) warned against use of older (tricyclic) antidepressants in people under 18 years old. It also determined the drugs were associated with heart attacks in people of any age.

September 29: The FDA ordered that labeling for the ADHD drug Strattera include a boxed warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking in children and adolescents taking it.

October 17: The FDA warned that the antidepressant Cymbalta could cause liver damage.

October 24: The FDA withdrew the stimulant Cylert from the market because of the risk of liver toxicity and failure.

November: The FDA warned that the antidepressant Effexor could cause homicidal thoughts.

2006

February 9: The FDAs Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee urged that the strongest black box warning be issued for stimulants, because they may cause heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.

February 20: British authorities warned that Strattera was associated with seizures and potentially lengthening period of the time between heartbeats.

March 22: An FDA advisory panel heard evidence of almost 1,000 reports of kids experiencing psychosis or mania while taking stimulants.

May 3: FDA adverse drug reaction reports linked antipsychotic drugs to 45 child deaths and 1,300 serious adverse reactions, such as convulsions and low white blood cell count.

May 12: The manufacturer of Paxil warned that the antidepressant increases the risk of suicide in adults.

May 26: Health Canada issued new warnings of rare heart risks for all drugs prescribed for ADHD, including the risk of sudden death.

June 2: An FDA study determined that the antipsychotic drug, Risperdal, might cause pituitary tumors. The pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, secretes hormones that promote growth, and regulates body functions. Antipsychotics may increase prolactin, a hormone in the pituitary gland, and this increase has been linked to cancer. Risperdal was found to increase prolactin levels more frequently than in other antipsychotics.

July 19: The FDA said antidepressant packaging should carry warnings that they may cause a fatal lung condition in newborns whose mothers took SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy. Migraine sufferers also need to be warned that combining migraine drugs with SSRIs could result in a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.

Food Poisoning

The modern man ingests in his lifetime an incredible amount of chemicals, artificial flavors and additives. Although there is growing awareness regarding healthy eating, there is also a lot of misinformationand disinformation.

At the present time, a single company Monsanto produces roughly 95% of all soybeans and 80% of all corn in the US. Considering this, the corn flakes you had for breakfast, soda you drank at lunch and beefstew you ate for dinner likely were produced from crops grown with Monsantos patented genes. There are numerous documents and films exposing Monsantos strong-arming of the agricultural industry, so I wont expand on that issue. It is however important to note that a virtual monopoly currently exists in the food industry and theres a unhealthy link between Monsanto and the American government: Many people who have passed laws in the fields of food, drugs and agriculture were also, at some point on the payroll of Monsanto. In other words, the elite decides which foods are sold to you.

Public officials formerly employed by Monsanto:

Justice Clarence Thomas worked as an attorney for Monsanto in the 1970s. Thomas wrote the majority opinion in the 2001 Supreme Court decision J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.|J. E. M. AG SUPPLY, INC. V. PIONEER HI-BREDINTERNATIONAL, INC. which found that newly developed plant breeds are patentable under the general utility patent laws of the United States. This case benefited all companies which profit from genetically modified crops, of which Monsanto is one of the largest.

Michael R. Taylor was an assistant to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner before he left to work for a law firm on gaining FDA approval of Monsantos artificial growth hormone in the 1980s. Taylor then became deputy commissioner of the FDA from 1991 to 1994.Taylor was later re-appointed to the FDA in August 2009 by President Barack Obama.

Dr. Michael A. Friedman was a deputy commissioner of the FDA before he was hired as a senior vice president of Monsanto.

Linda J. Fisher was an assistant administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before she was a vice president at Monsanto from 1995 2000. In 2001, Fisher became the deputy administrator of the EPA.

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was chairman and chief executive officer of G. D. Searle & Co., which Monsanto purchased in 1985. Rumsfeld personally made at least $12million USD from the transaction.

Many laws (approved by ex-Monsanto employees) have facilitated the introduction and the consumption of genetically engineered foods by the public.

According to current statistics, 45% of corn and 85% of soybeans in the United States is genetically engineered (GE). Estimates of 70-75% of processed foods found at our local supermarkets are believed to contain GE ingredients.

Other GE foods are canola, papayas, radicchio, potatoes, rice, squash or zucchini, cantaloupe, sugar beets, flax, tomatoes, and oilseed rape. One non-food crop that is commonly GE is cotton. The GE hormone recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or Prosilac) was one of the first GE products allowed to enter the nations food supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Monsantos rBGH in 1993.- Anna M. Salanti, Genetically Engineered Foods

Although it is yet impossible to determine the long-term effects of genetically engineered foods on the human body, some facts have already been established. GE foods contain less nutrients and, most importantly, they are chemical-friendly.

One of the features of GE foods is their ability to withstand unlimited application of chemicals, including pesticides. Bromoxynil and glyphosate have been associated with developmental disorders in fetuses, tumors, carcinomas, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Studies indicate that Monsantos recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) causes treated cows to produce milk with an increased second hormone, IGF-1. This hormone is associated with human cancers. Recommendations by the Congressional watchdog agency, Government Accounting Office (GAO), recommended that rBGH not be approved. The European Union, Canada, and others have banned it. The UN has also refused to certify that using rBGH is safe. Ibid

Genetic modifications engineered by Monsanto makes their products bigger and more aesthetically pleasing. Another, less discussed improvement is the plants ability to withstand nearly unlimited amounts of Roundup brand pesticides. This encourages farmers to use that brand of pesticides which is produced by Monsanto.

Studies on Roundup link the powerful pesticide and herbicide to many health problems such as:

Increased risks of the cancer non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Miscarriages

Attention Deficit Disorder (the real one)

Fluoride

Another source of harmful chemicals is found in the modern mans water supplies and soft drinks.As of 2002, the CDC statistics show that almost 60% of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water through the taps in their homes. The official reason for the presence of fluoride in our tap water? It prevents tooth decay. Ok really? Is this mildly important benefit worth the consuming of great amounts of this substance by the population? Some studies even denied the dental benefits of fluorided water.

Scientists now believe that the main protective action from fluoride does not come from ingesting the chemical, with the teeth absorbing it from inside the body, but from direct absorption through topical application to teeth. This means swallowing water is a far less effective way to fight cavities than brushing with fluoridated toothpaste. Source

So why is fluoride still found in tap water? Here are some quick facts aboutfluoridation chemicals:

theywere once used as pesticides

they are registered as poisonous under the 1972 Poisons Act, in the same group of toxins as arsenic, mercury and paraquat

fluoride is scientifically classed as more toxic than lead, but there is about 20 times more fluoride than lead in tap water

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of fluoride on the human body and some notable adverse effects have been noted: it changes bone structure and strength, impairs the immune system and it was linked to some cancers. Another alarming consequence of fluoridation is its effects on brain functions:

In 1995, neurotoxicologist and former Director of toxicology at Forsyth Dental Center in Boston, Dr. Phyllis Mullenix published research showing that fluoride built up in the brains of animals when exposed to moderate levels. Damage to the brain occured and the behavior patterns of the animals was adversely effected. Offspring of pregnant animals receiving relatively low doses of fluoride showed permanent effects to the brain which were seen as hyperactivity (ADD-like symptoms). Young animals and adult animals given fluoride experienced the opposite effect hypoactivity or sluggishness. The toxic effects of fluoride on the central nervous system was subsequently confirmed by previously-classified government research. Two new epidemiological studies which tend to confirm fluorides neurotoxic effects on the brain have shown that children exposed to higher levels of fluoride had lower IQs.- Source

A lesser known, but extremely important side effect of fluoride is the calcification of the pineal gland.

Up until the 1990s, no research had ever been conducted to determine the impact of fluoride on the pineal gland a small gland located between the two hemispheres of the brain that regulates the production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the onset of puberty and helps protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals.

It is now known thanks to the meticulous research of Dr. Jennifer Luke from the University of Surrey in England that the pineal gland is the primary target of fluoride accumulation within the body.

The soft tissue of the adult pineal gland contains more fluoride than any other soft tissue in the body a level of fluoride (~300 ppm) capable of inhibiting enzymes.

The pineal gland also contains hard tissue (hyroxyapatite crystals), and this hard tissue accumulates more fluoride (up to 21,000 ppm) than any other hard tissue in the body (e.g. teeth and bone).

- Source

Other than regulating vital hormones, the pineal gland is known to serve an esoteric function. It is known by mystic groups as the third eye and has been considered by many cultures to be part of the brain responsible for spiritual enlightenment and the link to the divine.Is enlightenment out of bounds for the modern man?

In the human brain there is a tiny gland called the pineal body, which is the sacred eye of the ancients, and corresponds to the third eye of the Cyclops. Little is known concerning the function of the pineal body, which Descartes suggested (more wisely than he knew) might be the abode of the spirit of man. Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetner used in sugar-free products such as diet sodas and chewing gum. Since its discovery in 1965, Aspartame caused great controversy regarding its health risks primarily causing brain tumors and was denied its application to be sold to the public by the FDA. Searle, the company attempting to market Aspartame then appointed Donald Rumsfeld as CEO in 1977 and things changed drastically. In a short period of time, Aspartame could be found in over 5,000 products.

Donald Rumsfeld was on President Reagans transition team and the day after he took office he appointed an FDA Commissioner who would approve aspartame. The FDA set up a Board of Inquiry of the best scientists they had to offer who said aspartame is not safe and causes brain tumors, and the petition for approval is hereby revoked. The new FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hull Hayes, over-ruled that Board of Inquiry and then went to work for the PR Agency of the manufacturer, Burson-Marstellar, rumored at $1000.00 a day, and has refused to talk to the press ever since.- Source

Years after its approval by the FDA, leading scientists still urge the organization to ban this product.

Dr. John Olney, who founded the field of neuoscience called excitotoxicity, attempted to stop the approval of aspartame with Attorney James Turner back in 1996. The FDAs own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross told Congress that without a shadow of a doubt, aspartame can cause brain tumors and brain cancer and violated the Delaney Amendment which forbids putting anything in food that is known to cause Cancer. Detailed information on this can be found in the Bressler Report (FDA report on Searle).- Ibid

In 1995, the FDA was forced to release, under the Freedom of Information act, a list of ninety-two symptoms caused by aspartame reported by thousands of victims:

Those symptoms are however only the tip of the iceberg. Aspartame has been linked to severe illnesses and long term health issues.

According to the top doctors and researchers on this issue, aspartame causes headache, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma and cancer. It worsens or mimics the symptoms of such diseases and conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimers, chronic fatigue and depression. Further dangers highlighted is that aspartame liberates free methyl alcohol. The resulting chronic methanol poisoning affects the dopamine system of the brain causing addiction. Methanol, or wood alcohol, constitutes one third of the aspartame molecule and is classified as a severe metabolic poison and narcotic.- Ibid

In Conclusion

If the main message of this website has been to this point watch what enters your mind, the main message of this article is watch what enters your body. The consumption of the products stated above will probably not cause an immediate and noticeable effect. But, after many years of ingesting those substances, ones thoughts become increasingly clouded and foggy, the ability to concentrate becomes hindered and judgment becomes impaired. In other words, the once sharp mind becomes dull. What happens when a population is heavily sedated and poisoned on a daily basis? It becomes numb, zombie-like and docile. Instead of asking important questions and seeking a higher truth, the dumbed-down mass simply accomplishes its daily tasks and absorbs whatever the media tells them. Is this what the elite is looking to create?

There is, however, a silver lining here. Many of the negative effects of the substances described above are reversible. And YOU are the one who decides what enters your body. This article provides a brief overview of dangers lurking for the unaware consumer, but tons of information is available on which to base enlightened decisions. Your body is a temple. Will you allow it to be desecrated?

Irrational Consumerism (or The Few Companies Who Feed the World)

Apr 15th, 2011 | Category: Vigilant Reports |262 Comments

Not many people realize that most of the processed foods available on the market, whether they be in groceries or fast-food chains, all come from the same few companies. Even less people realize that these companies are major actors in elite organizations who decide health, social and economic policies around the world. Well look at the big three companies who feed the world, their many brands and the tactics they undertake to make people crave their products.

If one were to carefully study the labels on packaged products in an average grocery store, one would probably notice that the same company names appear repeatedly: Nestl, Kraft, General Mills and a few others. Many brands offering good ol fashioned homemade or all-natural/organic foods are nothing more than subsidiaries of these few world-wide mega-companies. The major difference between the main brand and the subsidiaries is packaging and advertising, which are targeted to reach different markets. In order to preserve the carefully crafted image surrounding a product, connections to the mother company are often conveniently hidden. Imagine an advertisement for bottled water going like this: Drink pure, clear, refreshing Aquafina water, bottled with care from remote natural sources in the Himalayas BROUGHT TO YOU BY PEPSICO, THE MAKER OF TACO BELL AND CHEETOS MIGHTY ZINGERS! That would probably spoil the healthy, natural image they are trying to create for the product.

That is the reason marketing and branding are the most vital part of the food industry. Each product must live in its own world, separate from its mother company and similar products. Advertising is so powerful that two similar brands of cereal, made from the same basic ingredients, can be targeted to entirely different markets. For example, are Special K and Rice Krispies so different? From a strictly rational viewpoint, these products are nearly identical in shape, taste and ingredients. From an irrational (marketing) viewpoint however, they are in two different worlds. Advertisements for Rice Krispies revolve around colorful cartoon characters and played during Saturday morning kids shows while Special K tends to show fit women doing yoga (or on their way to or from yoga). Rice Krispies boxes have games and toy giveaways, while Special Ks box gives access to a weight loss challenge website. All of this is smoke and mirrors, however, because at the end of the line, whether you choose one, the other or pretty much any other cereal in the grocery store, youre eating the same thing and your money ends up at the same place.

The processed-food industry can be considered a true oligopoly. Together, the three leading food companies, Nestle, Kraft Foods and PepsiCo, achieve a dominant proportion of global processed-food sales. In fact, these three companies are often used as an example of Rule of Three in business schools, since they are a real-life example of a market being dominated by three gigantic actors. Their position as worldwide food providers has made these conglomerates extremely powerful, and they are represented in most elite organizations such as the Council of Foreign Relations. This not only allows them to provide their preferred policies on nutrition and health issues across the globe, but on economic, political and social issues as well. Such prominence also allows these companies to ensure their continued market dominance, through policy-making, access to insider information and the intimidation of potential competitors. If considered objectively, the oligopoly of major companies like these are a direct threat to free market theories.

Today, if a small food company were to create a new revolutionary product, it would find it difficult to obtain distribution without giving up its rights to one these conglomerates. In addition to dominating the shelves, the Big Three control most of the worldwide channels of distribution, to the point that up-and-coming companies cannot reach the consumers without dealing with them. The only way small business owners can avoid years of struggle and rejection to obtain shelf-space in supermarkets is to strike a licensing deal with one of the giants, where the owner cedes the ownership and the rights to the product in exchange for royalty checks (which are usually a small percentage of the sales). Each licensing deal consolidates these companies position and eliminates threats from any potential competitor who creates game-changing products.

Here are the top three companies and a summary list of their multiple brands:

1- Nestl

Nestl is the worlds largest food company. It has 6,000 brands, with a wide range of products across a number of markets including coffee, bottled water and other beverages, chocolate, ice cream, infant foods, performance and healthcare nutrition, seasonings, frozen and refrigerated foods, confectioneries and pet food. In 2009, consolidated sales were close to $120 billion USD and investments in research and development were $2.24 billion USD. The chairman of the company, Mr. Brabeck-Letmathe, is on the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse Group, LOral and ExxonMobil. He is also a member of ERT (European Round Table of Industrialists) and a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum (an important actor in the push for a world government). Products sold by Nestl include:

Cereals

Cinnamon Toast CrunchCheerios (outside US, Canada and Australia)Cini MinisHoney Nut Cheerios (outside US, Canada and Australia)Oat CheeriosCookie CrispGolden GrahamsHoney StarsKoko KrunchMilo CerealsNestl Corn FlakesNesquikShreddiesShredded WheatClustersTrix

Yogurt

Munch BunchSki

Coffee

BonkaNescafNespressoPartners BlendRicoffyRistrettoRicorSicalTofaTasters ChoiceZogasShrameet

Water

AberfoyleAqua DOrAqua PodAcqua PannaAl ManhalAquapodArrowheadBuxtonContrexDeer ParkHparIce MountainHenniezKorpiLevissimaNestl AquarelNestl VeraOzarkaPerrierPoland SpringPowwowMinerePure Life/Pureza VitalQuzacSan PellegrinoSan BernardoViladrauVittelZephyrhills

Other drinks

Nestea (Joint venture with Coca-Cola, Beverage Partners Worldwide)Enviga (Joint venture with Coca-Cola, Beverage Partners Worldwide)MiloCarnationCaroNesquikLibbysGrowers Direct Organic Fruit JuicesGood HostJuicy JuiceSki up and go

Shelf-stable products

Bear BrandCarnationChristieCoffee-MateDancowGloriaKlimLa LecheraMilkmaidNesprayNestlNesvitaNestl Omega PlusNidoNinhoSveltyEmswissMilo

Ice cream

CamyDreyersEdysFriscoHagen-Dazs (North America and the United Kingdom)Hjem-IS (Denmark & Norway)MaxibonMottaMivviNestlNestl DrumstickOreo (Canada)Peters (Australia)Push-UpSchllerSkinny Cow

Infant foods

AleteAlfareBebaCrlacFM 85Gerber (the worlds largest baby food company)Good StartGuigozLactogenNanNAN HANanSoyNeslacNestlNestogenNidoPreNan

Performance nutrition

MusashiNestonNesvitaPowerBarPriaSupligen

Healthcare/nutrition

BoostCarnation Instant BreakfastNutrenPeptamenGlytrolCrucialImpactIsosourceFibersourceDiabetisourceCompleatOptifastResource

Seasonings

BuitoniMaggiCarpathiaCHEFThomyWiniary

Frozen foods

StouffersLean CuisineBuitoniHot PocketsLean PocketsPapa GuiseppiTombstone PizzaJacks PizzaDiGiorno PizzaCalifornia Pizza Kitchen Frozen

Chocolate, confectioneries and baked goods

100 Grand BarAeroAfter EightAllensAnimal BarBaby RuthBertie Beetle (Australia)Big Turk (Canada)Black MagicBoci (Hungary)Blue RibandBono(Brazil)BreakawayButterfingerButterfinger BBsButterfinger CrispBon Pari (Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary)CaillerCaramacCarlos VChips Ahoy! (Canada)Coffee CrispChunkyDrifterFrigorGalak/MilkybarGoobersHeavenHercules Bars (with Disney)IcebreakersKit Kat (Hersheys in the US)LionMatchmakersMilky BarMirageJoffMunchiesNestl Alpine WhiteNestl with AlmondsNestl CrunchNestl Crunch CrispNestl Crunch with CaramelNestl Crunch with PeanutsNestl Crunch PiecesNestl Crunch WhiteNestl Milk ChocolateNestl PrincessaNestl Wonder BallNipsNuts (Europe)Oh Henry (except US)Peppermint CrispPerugina BaciPoloQuality StreetRaisinetsRolo (Hersheys in the US)Rowntrees

Fruit PastillesJelly TotsPick & MixRandomsFruit GumsTooty FrootiesJuicy JelliesSnowcaps

SmartiesTexan BarToffee CrispToll House cookiesTurtlesWalnut WhipViolet CrumbleYorkieXXX mints

Petcare

AlpoBenefulCat ChowDog ChowFancy FeastFelixFriskiesGo CatButchersBakersWinalotGourmetMighty DogMon PetitONEPro PlanPurinaTidy Cats

Controversy

Nestl has faced ongoing resistance around the world for its promotion of breast milk substitutes (infant formula), especially in third world countries. According to campaigners, Nestl contributes to the unnecessary suffering and even deaths of babies, largely among the poor.

Advocacy groups and charities have accused Nestl of unethical methods of promoting infant formula over breast milk to poor mothers in developing countries. For example, IBFAN claim that Nestl distributes free formula samples to hospitals and maternity wards; after leaving the hospital, the formula is no longer free, but because the supplementation has interfered with lactation, the family must continue to buy the formula. IBFAN also allege that Nestl uses humanitarian aid to create markets, does not label its products in a language appropriate to the countries where they are sold, and offers gifts and sponsorship to influence health workers to promote its products.Nestl denies these allegations.

- Source

2- Kraft Foods

A subsidiary of Philip Morris (the maker of Marlboro cigarettes). Kraft Foods is the largest confectionery, food, and beverage corporation headquartered in the United States. It markets many brands in more than 155 countries; eleven of its worldwide brands each earn more than $1 billion annually. Like Nestle, Kraft has consolidated its status in the food oligarchy by buying gigantic brands such as Nabisco (Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Fig Newtons, Ritz, etc.) and Cadbury (Ferrero Rocher, Dairy Milk, Caramilk, etc.).

Krafts CEO Irene Blecker Rosenfeld was rated the 2nd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. Not surprising since most of the world consumes Kraft foods. Before joining Kraft, Rosenfeld was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo (another of the Big Three). Krafts brands include:

Toblerone chocolate barsA1 Steak SauceAli CoffeeArrowroot biscuitsBack to NatureBakers (chocolate)Balance BarBetter CheddarsBoca BurgerBonoxBreakstonesBullsEye Barbecue SauceCaf HAGCalifornia Pizza Kitchen (grocery store items)Calumet Baking PowderCameo (biscuits)Capri Sun (juice drink)Carte NoireCheesybiteCheese NipsCheez WhizChicken in a BiskitChips Ahoy! (cookies)Christie (Canadian division of Nabisco)Claussen (pickles)ClightClub Social (crackers)Cool Whip (non-dairy whipped cream)CornNuts (snack food)Cte dOr (Belgium)Country Time (powdered drink mix)Cracker BarrelCrystal LightDairylea (Europe)Delissio (Canada)DiGiorno (pizza)Easy CheeseFig NewtonsFudgee-O (Canada)General Foods InternationalGrape-Nuts (breakfast cereal)Grey Poupon (mustard)

Handi-SnacksHoney MaidIn-A-Biskit (Australia)Jacks PizzaJacobs (Europe)Jell-O (gelatin dessert)Jet-Puffed MarshmallowsKenco (United Kingdom)Knox (gelatin)Knudsen (dairy products)Kool-Aid (flavored drink mix)Kraft BBQ SauceKraft CaramelsKraft Macaroni and CheeseKraft Dinner (Canada)Kraft EasymacKraft MayoKraft BagelfulsKraft Peanut Butter (Canada)Kraft Singles (pasteurized prepared cheese product)Kraft Sandwich SpreadLefvre-UtileLunchablesMaxwell House (coffee)Miracle Whip (salad dressing spread)

NabiscoNabob (coffee) (Canada)Naked DrinksNillaNutter ButterOnko (coffee)Oreo (cookie)Oscar MayerGrated Parmesan cheesePhiladelphia cream cheesePigrolacPlantersPolly-O (cheese)Premium (a Nabisco brand of saltine crackers)PretzelsPtit QubecPrince PoloPure Kraft Salad DressingsRitzRoyal baking powderSeven Seas (salad dressings)Sanka (decaffeinated coffee)Shake n BakeSimmenthal (canned meat)SnackaboutsSnackWellsSouth Beach LivingStarbucks (grocery store items)Stove Top stuffingSuchardTaco Bell (grocery store items)TangTassimo (single-serve coffee machines using pods branded as T-Discs)

PepsiCo

PepsiCo Incorporated is a global Fortune 500 corporation headquartered in Purchase, Harrison, New York, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of beverages, grain-based snack foods and other products. If you hadnt guessed it, its main product is Pepsi Cola, but soda pop is not the companys only product. In fact, a teenager with the munchies could easily leave a convenience store with three or four PepsiCo products without realizing it (or caring).

PepsiCo is a Premium member of the Council of Foreign Relation and of the Brookings institute, two of the most important organizations for the worlds elite (as seen in the article Naming Names: Your Real Government). The chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, is part of the World Economic Forum. Within these organizations, executives from PepsiCo and other mega-corporations like Sony (the largest label in the music industry), Nike (the largest shoe seller in the world), Rockefeller Group International, and Lockheed Martin (the largest defense company in the world), work alongside various heads of state (including past US presidents), policy-makers (such as current US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton) and image makers (like Tom Brokaw and George Clooney), to develop political, social and economic opinions and recommendations affecting entire countries. The policies favored by these organizations are collectively steering the world towards a unified world government and a single world currency, in what is often referred as a New World Order.

PepsiCo brands include:

Drinks:

AMPBriskMountain DewOcean SprayMistAquafinaLipton Ice TeaMUGPepsiSobeGatoradeTropicanaNo Fear Energy DrinkPropel Enhanced WaterStarbucks (retail products)

Food

LaysDoritosTostitosCheetosFritosSun ChipsBaked!Frito Lay DipsBaken-EtsChesters PuffcornCracker JackEl Isleno Plantain ChipsFrti-Lay PeanutsFunyunsGamesaGrandmasMatadorMaui Style Potato ChipsMiss VickiesMunchiesMunchosNaturalNut HarvestQuakerRold GoldRufflesSabritonesSantitasSmartfoodSpitzStacys

Yep, even the good ol trustworthy Quaker guy is part of PepsiCo.

The Spin-Off Company

PepsiCo also feeds millions daily through its spin-off company, Yum!, which owns restaurant chains including Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC,Hot n Now,East Side Marios,DAngelo Sandwich Shops,Chevys Fresh Mex, California Pizza Kitchen and Stolichnaya.

Many of the products listed above have existed for decades, some for over a century. What is the secret of such enduring success? First, the recipe has to be just right. As mentioned above, Nestl spent more than $2 billion dollars in 2009 alone for research and development, which is mostly used to pay people in lab coats to create the most appealing, taste-bud satisfying, addicting and, of course, cost-effective products possible. The addictive properties of salt, fat, sugar and other chemicals are well known to the $2 billion-per-year researchers. Processed foods contain a carefully calculated mix of chemicals and additives that send satisfying signals to the brain, which the brain then continues to seek out in the form of cravings.

However, there are countless companies selling similar products. So in order to keep consumers coming back to their specific brand, corporations invest billions of dollars in the second secret of success: brand loyalty achieved through marketing and advertising.

Irrational Advertisement

While the ultimate goal of an advertisement is to sell a product, PR firms will tell you that they are seeking to go way beyond the cheap sell. Their mission is to create an emotional attachment to a product, a concept that is totally irrational, yet extremely effective. They dont just want you to like their product, they want you to identify with it. They want you to define yourself by it. They are looking to create loyal, life-long customers by creating an image, a lifestyle and even a philosophy around a product. Lets take this Miracle Whip commercial as an example.

By showing people partying and running on the beach, the advertisement attempts to create an association between the product and being young, cool, hip and rebellious. Although the ad is a bit heavy handed, I do agree that theres nothing more rebellious than stuffing ones face with a sandwich full of mayonnaise substitute. Rock on.

Advertisements like these are meticulously calculated to reach a particular demographic population and to generate specific emotions within these viewers. To achieve these aims, they rely on extensive research on human behavior.

No group of sociologists can approximate the ad teams in the gathering and processing of exploitable social data. The ad teams have billions to spend annually on research and testing of reactions, and their products are magnificent accumulations of material about the shared experience and feelings of the entire community.

- Marshal McLuhan, The Extensions of Man

To sell brand loyalty to a viewer through a television advertisement, rational/logical arguments have limited effects. The most effective and successful ads are able to bypass rational thought (where an argument can either be accepted or rejected) and tap directly into the viewers subconscious, through their instincts, fears or insecurities.

It is with knowledge of the human being, his tendencies, his desires, his needs, his psychic mechanisms, his automatisms as well as knowledge of social psychology and analytical psychology that propaganda refines its techniques. Propagandes, Jacques Ellul (free translation)

To illustrate this, lets look at two typical food advertisements aimed at an important market: mothers.

Irrational Advertisement: Selling to Mothers

For marketers, mothers are a dream. They have an enormous weak spot: children, especially their own. This love for kids is not rational: the maternal instinct is one of humanitys most primal and hormonal reflexes. To tap into it is to directly tap into a mothers internal hard-wiring. Through the use of research and focus groups, advertisers have learned the most effective ways to get reactions out of mothers, and create targeted ads that make mothers feel worried, moved, scared, angry or unsettled. Once the target is in the intended emotional state, the product is presented as the answer to everything. Heres a flour advertisement specifically directed at mothers:

So this advertisement sells flour. A big ol bag of white powder. If it was rational, it would had described the flours above-average performance (which is true) or perhaps its advantageous cost per pound. It doesnt. It goes straight to the emotions.

To effectively reach its audience, the ad does not talk about flour at all, but about loving ones children and baking memories. Behind the cutesy, heart-warming feel, the truth is that the ad taps into mothers visceral fear of being considered a bad parent. To do so, the marketers have conceived a cleverly phrased, psychologically manipulative speech given by a cute animated girl that sends non-baking mothers into a mega-guilt trip. The ads is basically says this:

By refusing to bake muffins for your children, you are robbing them of happy, licking-batter-off-a-spoon memories. And since memories are all we have in life, you are robbing them of THEIR LIVES. How can you do this to them? Do you want your children to become broken and empty individuals? Do you? No? Well, stop being such an incompetent mother and buy that bag of flour and make some muffins. Maybe then your children will remember you as a Good Mother. Maybe. If its not too late. You might have messed everything up already with your outrageous non-baking ways. Shame!

Heres another advertisement aimed at mothers.