This must be modded up by others that didn't RTFA ...
articles like this that just throw in the proverbial towel arent helping. We need competent nutritional education and responsible industry to start offering food that is both nutritious and healthy. Yet as with most industries the change often comes from the consumer, and its often met half-hearted and begrudgingly.
The author would agree with you that we need competent nutritional education and the point is that rather than throw in the towel because it's a complicated issue we need to do something.
He prescribes more research and updating public policy based on current research.
Also: the consumer is only 1/2 the problem. Food companies spend millions advertising junk food, which increases consumer demand for said food, creating an artificial feedback loop. We could create a similar feedback loop for healthy (i.e. non-junk) food but doing so is costly. Not just in terms of advertising dollars.
There's lost profits when selling healthy food at a lower margin than junk food.
There's lost profits when people no longer need to purchase health care products/services due to weight related illness.
There's lost tax money on junk food vs. healthy food (in some countries.)
We've created an economic feedback loop that encourages unhealthy lifestyles - it pays better.
Note: I do not think (nor have I seen evidence of) a conspiracy. I'm talking about economic forces that we can take control over if we wish. It will take many different groups working together to achieve this goal. Consumers, government, and industry need to work together and against the economic incentives.