The Big-Tobacco Playbook Comes for Your Oreos
A new lawsuit likens food companies to the tobacco industry. But it’s much harder to do something about junk food than cigarettes.
TL;DR
- Various industries, including food, oil, NFL, online gambling, tech, and plastics, have been compared to Big Tobacco for alleged deceptive practices.
- San Francisco is suing major food companies, accusing them of using Big Tobacco tactics to create and sell addictive processed foods while concealing risks.
- While cigarette risks are well-established, defining ultra-processed foods and their precise effects on overeating is still debated.
- Both industries have been accused of downplaying the harm of their products and shifting blame, with food companies funding think tanks and engaging in misleading marketing.
- Historically, tobacco and food companies were sometimes merged, with a study finding foods developed by tobacco-owned companies were more likely to be hyperpalatable.
- Food industry representatives deny comparisons to Big Tobacco, emphasizing the nutritional content of foods and offering healthier options.
- The comparison to Big Tobacco highlights the severity of the obesity problem and the role of food manufacturing, but drastic anti-food measures are unpopular.
- Unlike cigarettes, food is essential, and ultra-processed foods are now a major part of adult diets, making them difficult to eliminate.