The 11 September terror attacks on America are having tangible impact on the US diet industry, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


“A lot of Americans are reassessing their priorities,” reads the article: “With the country at war and fear of bio terrorism mounting, many are wondering what’s the point of being good anymore.”
 
What this essentially means is that for many, a strict diet plan has been abandoned in favour of an urge to live for the moment.


Gil Gruber, president of New York-based weight-loss counselling company Dietwatch.com Inc, revealed a story typical of many similar companies. Business, she said, plummeted by 61% in the week following the attacks.


Similarly, retailers throughout the US are reporting that sales of diet and low-calorie products are flagging.


Interestingly, nutrition expert Judith Stern, from the University of California, explained to the Wall Street Journal that Americans traditionally gain weight during wartime. It was during the First World War that the Food Administration introduced the “gospel of the clean plate”.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact