Extracts below. Full text: https://healthpolicy-watch.news/big-tobacco-engineered-ultra-processed-f...
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Researchers found that tobacco companies expanded into the food industry, applying their knowledge about flavours, design and strategy to develop addictive food products.
Tobacco companies have helped to engineer ultra-processed food (UPF) and scale up the industry, developing and distributing addictive products that are driving obesity, cancer, dementia and chronic diseases like diabetes.
This is according to one of the most comprehensive reviews of the drivers and impact of UFP, published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) on Wednesday. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/ultraprocessedfoodssection
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Pepperoni pizza, chocolate chip cookies, French fries, glazed doughnuts, and plain potato chips had the highest ratings for addictiveness...
Alongside the publication of the UPF research, leading scientists, researchers, and public health advocates also launched a science-first consumer education movement called FedUP!
It will be dedicated to exposing the harms of ultra-processed food and empowering Americans with “clear, evidence-based information about how the modern food system impacts health”.
The movement’s new website will translate scientific research into accessible education, resources, and tools to help families, communities, and policymakers better understand ultra-processed food and take meaningful action.
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In a previous message on HIFA I worte: "The tobacco, alcohol and (to some extent) the pharmaceutical industry make their profits largely by making their products attractive and addictive (or at least dependent). For tobacco products we see 'sleek packaging, vast social media influencer campaigns, and candy-inspired flavours'." To this list we should add the ultra-processed food industry.
There is emerging evidence that these industries are directly or indirectly collaborating and thereby becoming an increasing threat to public health.
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org