health
Big tobacco uses cigarette playbook to help sell ultra-processed foods, journal reveals
New issue of the American Journal of Public Health focuses on parallels between marketing for cigarettes and UPFs
TL;DR
- Big tobacco companies, including RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris, have used the same strategies to sell ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as they did for cigarettes.
- These strategies involve optimizing product formulations for rapid delivery and maximizing "hedonic impact" to encourage repeat consumption.
- UPFs are linked to various health risks, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and cognitive decline, with studies showing a higher risk of dementia in those with high UPF intake.
- Brands like Lunchables were developed using psychological research and tactics to appeal to children's desires for independence and play.
- The "light" and "reduced-fat" product strategy, initially used to retain smokers, has also been applied to UPFs.
- Concerns are raised about government policies, such as corn subsidies and attempts to reduce SNAP enrollments, that may exacerbate the UPF problem.
- Experts credit movements like Maha for shifting blame from personal responsibility to the food industry's role in marketing UPFs, especially to children.