The term "junk food" dates back to at least the early 1950s, although it was coined in 1972 by Michael F. Jacobson. In 1952, the term appeared in a newspaper headline referring to candy, cake, and other "junk foods" that could cause malnutrition. The article traced the term back to 1948, when a doctor wrote about "cheat foods" made of white flour and sugar that included white bread, crackers, cake and candy. The term "cheat food" can be found in newspapers as early as 1916.
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Junk
3. ORIGIN OF THE TERM
THE TERM JUNK FOOD DATES BACK AT LEAST TO THE EARLY 1950S, ALTHOUGH IT
HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT IT WAS COINED IN 1972 BY MICHAEL F. JACOBSON OF
THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IN 1952, IT APPEARED IN A
HEADLINE IN THE LIMA, OHIO, NEWS, "CANDY, CAKE, "JUNK FOODS" CAUSE
SERIOUS MALNUTRITION," FOR A REPRINT OF A 1948 ARTICLE FROM THE OGDEN,
UTAH, STANDARD-EXAMINER, ORIGINALLY HEADLINED, "DR. BRADYS HEALTH
COLUMN: MORE JUNK THAN FOOD." IN IT, DR. BRADY WRITES, "WHAT MRS. H
CALLS 'JUNK' I CALL CHEAT FOOD. THAT IS ANYTHING MADE PRINCIPALLY OF (1)
WHITE FLOUR AND OR (2) REFINED WHITE SUGAR OR SYRUP. FOR EXAMPLE, WHITE
BREAD, CRACKERS, CAKE, CANDY, ICE CREAM SODA, CHOCOLATE MALTED,
SUNDAES, SWEETENED CARBONATED BEVERAGES." THE TERM CHEAT FOOD CAN BE
TRACED BACK IN NEWSPAPER MENTIONS TO AT LEAST 1916.