Presented as slimming allies, easy to consume, certain nutritional solutions pose problems according to Jean-Michel Cohen. In particular, he points out a product that he considers misleading across the board.
In a video published on Instagram, Jean-Michel Cohen tackles head-on a product that has established itself in the eating habits of many consumers, often convinced of boosting a slimming goal. Behind the marketing promises, he points out much less flattering nutritional realities, emphasizing the composition and the real effect on the body. The tone is annoyed and the message leaves no room for ambiguity.
In this intervention, the nutritionist begins by expressing his exasperation at the proliferation of these products: “So, these snacks, they annoy me, because today there are 36,000 of them.” A diversity which, according to him, does not reflect an improvement in quality, but rather a marketing segmentation which maintains confusion, particularly around their positioning on weight loss. He emphasizes their industrial nature, recalling that it is not simply a question of processed foods, but of “ultra-processed products”a significant nuance.
He also claims that caloric density is actually linked to the very low weight of these products. “If they contain few calories it’s because they weigh very little. That means that in 20 grams, we give you 100 calories.” A remark which aims to deconstruct a preconceived idea, according to which these products are intrinsically light or suitable for weight loss. To illustrate his point, he compares with a food known to be rich: “You know, with 20 grams of foie gras, I also make 100 calories.” A way of putting the figures into perspective and emphasizing that, in a slimming approach, the notion of portion is often neglected by consumers.
Beyond the calories, it is the overall composition that poses a problem according to him. Jean-Michel Cohen talks about poor quality ingredients, including in products displaying an organic label. He questions the idea that organic would automatically be synonymous with a good nutritional choice, recalling that industrial processing can alter the benefit of a product, whatever its origin. He adds: “These products whet the appetite and therefore provide very little protein. In 20 grams of a product, you cannot have 20 grams of protein. The maximum you are going to have is 3 grams of protein.” A clarification which aims to correct a promise put forward on the packaging. We are talking here about so-called protein bars.
Behind the image of a healthy and controlled snack, he sees above all a poorly designed product, of little use, sometimes counterproductive and above all “very annoying”. For him, the proteins highlighted can be easily found elsewhere, in less processed and more filling foods. To remember.
