No news show, no program on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel has done more to attack the hype of food, food obsession, and food marketing than the Colbert Report.
Whether that be Thought for Food or challenging Dr. Robert Lustig on high-fructose corn syrup or many spirited battles with Michael Pollan or his classic Wheat Thins segment, Stephen Colbert has been a champion for a better-run society when it comes to food.
The Colbert Report started out to be a spoof of shows such as the O'Reilly Factor. Colbert took his success and used it to call out hypocrisy and food marketing shame. As himself, he testified before Congress about the plight of farm workers.
BalanceofFood.com coverage of the Colbert Report
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Colbert is ending the Colbert Report tonight to take over for David Letterman on CBS sometime in 2015. We fear very deeply that Colbert won't cover food topics with the vigor he did on the Colbert Report, if he covers them at all.
Here are some of the many segments that made us laugh and think over the last 9 years.
Stephen Colbert mocks concept of serving size in Wheat Thins parody
Stephen Colbert opens up can of sand as Taco Bell lawsuit gets more publicity
What's Tempting: Food labels listing added sugars
What's Tempting: Banning trans fats
School lunch
Colbert deservedly mocks Domino's Smart Slice
Stephen Colbert fights for school tater tots and Taco Bell 'food'
Colbert Report: Tom Vilsack and school lunches
Stephen Colbert calls out Tom Vilsack for ag policy contradictions
Dr. Robert Lustig
Dr. Robert Lustig's slightly shifting views on high-fructose corn syrup
Stephen Colbert knows more than Dr. Robert Lustig about high-fructose corn syrup dangers
Food quality
Colbert showcases government extreme on addressing raw milk
Behind the jokes, Stephen Colbert shines light on plight of farm workers
Stephen Colbert holds up a mirror to the meat industry
Colbert Report to shine spotlight on farm workers and their sacrifices
Colbert gives a lick about salt and the FDA
Colbert weighs in on the politics of sugar
Animal cruelty
Stephen Colbert fights for 'huge' chicken cages
Colbert Report pokes at Prozac in poultry
Michael Pollan and other supporters
Michael Pollan goes 'cooking' with Colbert Report
Will Allen gains new audience with Good Food Revolution
Weight of the Nation should be serious about why we're obese
Michael Pollan needs to be straightforward about high-fructose corn syrup
Michael Pollan says our bodies don't know what to do with HFCS
Way too much corn in our food
Snack foods
Colbert Report's Thought for Food: Can't stop at one?
Temptation of the Week: Doritos Tacos Locos
Portion sizes
Colbert Report pokes fun at shrinking candy bars, second breakfasts
Pyramids, plates offer 2-dimensional help in a 3-dimensional world
Food obsession
Colbert frowns on air in chocolate, and overdoing undercooked bacon
Colbert's Thought for Food: Fruit puree in a pouch
U.S. standards need to limit labeling 'cheese' for actual cheese
Colbert's Thought for Food: Foot-long cheeseburger and sugary cereals
Colbert's Thought for Food: Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
Colbert weighs in KFC Double Down, cupcakes for Germans
Our high-fructose corn syrup obsessions wrapped in Colbert humor
What's Tempting: KFC Go Cup used for healthy snacks
photos credit: Colbert Report
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