Did Tobacco Companies Also Get Us Hooked On Junk Food? New Research Says Yes

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Junk food brands like Oreo, Ritz, Miracle Whip and Oscar Meyer were once owned by tobacco companies who introduced hyperpalatable items to the American food chain.

The chemically addictive fatty, salty and sweet foods that make up 68% of the American food supply have historically been pushed to consumers by the nation's leading tobacco sales companies, new research shows, suggesting the same companies responsible for what has beenCookies for sale in Walgreens.

In the same way tobacco companies formulated cigarette products to maximize their addictiveness, the study's authors accuse the food producers of taking the same tactics,, pumping edible and drinkable products full of sugar, caffeine, fat, sodium and carbs to"create an artificially rewarding eating experience."

Foods produced by tobacco-owned companies were 29% more likely to be classified as hyperpalatable—having a certain mix of ingredients designed to be addictive— due to fat and sodium, the study's authors found, and 80% more likely to be ultra high in carbohydrates and sodium than foods that were produced by other companies.

Tobacco companies largely divested from the U.S. food system in the early 2000s, the research published in peer-reviewed journalsays, but"the shadow of big tobacco remained"—those hyperpalatable foods are still mainstays of the American diet, and those who consume them are more likely to be obese and have related health problems.

Food producers that were once tobacco-owned include Kraft-General Foods—merged together by Phillip Morris to become what was then the largest food company in the world—and Nabisco, which together produced products under the brands Oreo, Ritz, Miracle Whip and Oscar Meyer, among others.“These foods may be designed to make you eat more than you planned,” lead author Tera Fazzino said in a statement.

 

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