Dr. Earl Mindell's Unsafe at Any Meal: How to Avoid Hidden Toxins in Your Food

I have only read the 1986 edition, but the focus of the book is not to tell you exactly what to eat or what not to eat, it's primarily to inform you of a basic underlying problem in the U.S. food industry. Mindell puts the responsibility on the reader to change how they shop and eat, because the government isn't putting that responsibility on companies. The way the government does and does not regulate our food production and labels leaves huge holes for companies to slip dangerous, unnatural, unregulated, untested, and unhealthy substances onto store shelves and into our bodies. If you are predisposed to this premise, you will find the book very informative and a useful guide and tool when you go grocery shopping. Mindell doesn't expect people to stop eating processed food or fast food immediately after reading the book, but if you will start reading the ingredients list on foods you buy, this book will really help you decode what you are consuming. For those looking for a healthy living and cooking guide, subscribe to Cooking Light or any of a number of health magazines or get some cook books. Mindell does give a pretty comprehensive list of foods you should eat and additives and foods to avoid if at all possible. He does not weigh in heavily on issues like organic, fair trade, buy local, or slow food, even exercise. The book simply aims to arm the reader with information about hidden dangers in food processing and labels that would otherwise take years to learn by doing your own research.