Ultra-processed food manufacturers are just as bad as ‘Big Tobacco’, claims renowned expert who slams industry giants for selling ‘addictive’ items with same techniques

By Liam On Dec 9, 2023

Processed food manufacturers pose as much of a risk to public health as cigarette companies, a leading food expert has warned.

Dr. Chris van Tulleken, associate professor at University College London, said the mass-produced food industry behaves in a similar way to 'Big Tobacco' companies by selling addictive products that can be harmful.

He alleged that major food manufacturers put the pursuit of profit above public health, especially when marketing snack foods and processed foods to children.

“These companies use the same techniques as tobacco companies to create and then market addictive foods, especially to children,” he said.

'A poor diet has overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of death worldwide – and a poor diet means an ultra-processed diet.'

Dr. Chris van Tulleken (pictured in June), associate professor at University College London, said the mass-produced food industry behaves in a similar way to 'Big Tobacco' companies by selling addictive products that can be harmful. He alleged that major food manufacturers put the pursuit of profit over public health, especially when marketing snacks and processed foods to children

Tobacco use in Britain earns taxpayers £10 billion but costs society an estimated £17 billion. The number of smokers has fallen to just 12.9 percent in recent years, while obesity has risen to 65.5 percent. Government estimates put the cost of obesity at £27 billion a year, while other estimates put the figure much higher

Ultra-processed foods undergo multiple processes during production, are often high in salt and sugar, and contain additives, emulsifiers and preservatives.

They typically lack fiber and nutrients, but are high in calories.

Most junk food is ultra-processed, including ready-made meals, frozen pizzas, store-bought pies and potato-based snacks.

But many foods traditionally considered “healthy” are also ultra-processed, such as sliced bread from the supermarket and “diet” foods and drinks.

WHAT ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS?

Ultra-processed foods are high in added fat, sugar and salt, low in protein and fiber and contain artificial colours, sweeteners and preservatives.

The term refers to foods that contain ingredients that someone would not add when cooking at home, such as chemicals, colorings and preservatives.

Ready meals, ice cream, sausages, fried chicken and ketchup are some of the most popular examples.

They differ from processed foods, which are processed to extend their shelf life or improve their taste, such as cured meats, cheese and fresh bread.

Ultra-processed foods, such as sausages, breakfast cereals, biscuits and carbonated drinks, are formulations made largely or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives.

They contain little to no unprocessed or minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds and eggs.

The foods are usually packed with sugars, oils, fats and salt, as well as additives such as preservatives, antioxidants and stabilizers.

Ultra-processed foods are often presented as ready-to-eat, taste good and are cheap.

Source: Open Food Facts

Britain is one of the world's biggest consumers of ultra-processed foods, which are responsible for more than half the calories eaten by the average British adult and two-thirds of the average energy intake of children under five.

Speaking at the Unicef UK Baby-Friendly Initiative Conference in Harrogate last month, Dr Van Tulleken said: 'We have a real crisis of industrialised, processed foods being marketed to children… We are confident that these foods have addictive properties for both children and adults. .'

Research has shown that ultra-processed foods, including children's snacks, can be more addictive than Class A drugs.

It is believed that one in seven adults and one in eight children are addicted to these foods, according to an analysis of 281 studies published in the BMJ.

Previous studies have linked eating high levels of ultra-processed foods to a range of health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

An analysis of deaths in 195 countries published in The Lancet in 2019 found that poor diet is now responsible for more deaths worldwide than tobacco.

The study, led by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, found that poor diet was responsible for 10.9 million deaths worldwide in 2017, compared to eight million for tobacco. Tobacco companies have a long history of interest in mass production of food.

American cigarette makers Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds owned some of the largest food companies in the world from the 1980s to the mid-2000s, including General Foods, Kraft and Nabisco. During this time there was a sharp increase in global consumption of ultra-processed foods.

The companies – now merged as Kraft Heinz – will continue to sell Heinz baby food and snacks, as well as popular brands such as Heinz beans, Philadelphia cheese spread and Capri-Sun drinks.

The Nova system, developed by scientists in Brazil more than a decade ago, divides food into four groups based on the amount of processing it has undergone. Unprocessed foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs and meat. Processed culinary ingredients – which are not usually eaten alone – include oils, butter, sugar and salt

“It's not just that these (food manufacturers) are comparable to tobacco companies, they were also the tobacco companies,” Dr Van Tulleken added.

“The tobacco industry used its knowledge of taste and marketing to create and market addictive foods, especially to children.”

A spokesperson for the Food and Drink Federation, which represents the food industry, said: 'Over recent years we have invested heavily in changing the recipes of our products to remove fat, sugar and salt and add more fibre. fruit and vegetables.

'We have also reduced portion sizes and launched new, healthier products.'

The Department of Health and Social Care said it had introduced calorie labeling in restaurants and required pre-packed foods to contain 'a variety of information to assist shoppers – including a list of ingredients and nutritional facts'.

A government spokesperson said: 'We are taking strong action to encourage healthier food choices and tackle obesity – recognizing that it is the second biggest cause of cancer and costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year – while respecting the importance of individual choice. '