Ultra-Processed Foods Should Face Tobacco-Style Controls, Study Argues

Ultra-processed foods should be regulated more like cigarettes than everyday food, US researchers have said.
Scientists from Harvard University, University of Michigan and Duke University warned UPFs are engineered to drive addiction and overconsumption.
The study, published in Milbank Quarterly, found parallels with tobacco design, marketing, and health harms.
Researchers said “health washing” claims mirror past cigarette advertising tactics.
They urged tighter controls, including marketing restrictions and industry accountability.
Critics cautioned against overreach but agreed UPFs pose growing public health risks.