Bad Foods traces how the food nutrients fat, salt, and sugar have acquired negative reputations as well as the origins of controversies and outright misconceptions of the dangers of these nutrients. It also explores confusion that can in part be attributed to biased media coverage about foods. Modern Americans are routinely bombarded with information about the health value of certain foods and the dangers of others. Frequently, health information about certain nutrients receives exaggerated coverage (e.g., dietary fat) while the importance of other nutrients gets ignored (e.g., vitamins and minerals). Moreover, the public is confused because health information about foods is often perceived as contradictory. While some readers may be startled by the authoras challenge to sacred beliefs about foods, others will see honesty in his research and the writing and recognize the social benefits of examining our beliefs about foods.