Ultra-processed foods should be regulated like cigarettes because they promote addiction and harm health, researchers said.
Scientists from Harvard University, University of Michigan and Duke University compared UPFs to tobacco products.
They said manufacturers design both to maximise consumption and stimulate reward pathways.
The study, published in Milbank Quarterly, linked UPFs to widespread public health harm.
Researchers criticised “health washing” claims such as “low fat” or “sugar free”.
They urged marketing restrictions, legal action and stronger industry accountability.
Ultra-Processed Foods Should Face Tobacco-Style Controls, Study Warns
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