A study proposes regulating ultra-processed foods like tobacco
A recent study in the journal Milbank Quarterly draws an alarming parallel between the strategies of the ultra-processed foods industry and the tactics historically used by the tobacco industry. Experts from universities such as Harvard, Michigan, and Duke explain how these products are designed to be hyperpalatable and generate hard-to-control consumption habits. 🚬➡️🍪
The engineering behind compulsive consumption
The authors detail that foods like sodas, snacks, and industrial pastries employ ingredient engineering precisely along with aggressive marketing to become irresistible. Their formulation focuses on combining sugars, fats, and additives that directly activate the brain's reward centers. This deliberate approach seeks to create a pattern of excessive and repetitive consumption, the fundamental basis of the analogy with the tobacco industry.
Key characteristics of ultra-processed products:- They are formulated to maximize flavor and palatability, making them hyperattractive.
- They use advertising targeted at vulnerable population segments, such as children.
- Their design prioritizes the activation of brain reward responses, which can lead to compulsive consumption.
Ultra-processed foods are not just food; they are engineered products designed to create habits.
Regulatory proposals inspired by tobacco control
To counter the impact on public health, the study recommends implementing a package of regulatory measures similar to those applied to tobacco. The goal is to shift the focus from individual responsibility to that of the corporations that manufacture these products. It is argued that this is a matter of collective health that requires intervention.
Concrete measures proposed:- Apply front-of-pack labeling that is clear and mandatory to warn about risks.
- Establish higher taxes to discourage their purchase.
- Restrict or prohibit their sale in settings such as schools, hospitals, and sports centers.
- Strictly limit advertising, especially that targeted at minors.
A future with warnings on packaging
The report suggests that, following the tobacco model, we could soon see health warnings on cookie, cereal, or soda packages. Messages like 'Consuming this product seriously alters your waist' could become a reality. This measure aims to inform the consumer and generate reflection at the time of purchase, especially protecting the most vulnerable groups. The debate on regulating these foods as was done with tobacco is underway. ⚖️