In the excerpt from her book that was sent for review, Nestle gives readers a tour of the dairy aisle. She delves deeply into lobbying by the dairy industry and how its influence has shaped even the USDA's dietary guidelines. For example, in 2004, the recommended number of servings of dairy products was increased from two to three, based on pressure by dairy lobbyists. Nestle cites research sponsored by the dairy industry to back up claims for prevention of osteoporosis, bone health, and now weight loss. Independent research has indicated that the majority of human adults around the world can't tolerate cow's milk nor do they really benefit from added calcium through dairy alone. Nestle also blows holes in the claims of long life from eating yogurt, though she does recognize that plain yogurt is a healthy food.

This little taste of Nestle's 624 page tome really made me want to read about other foods in my supermarket's aisles. What to Eat should be eye-opening for any shopper and anyone interested in the politics of food lobbying.