Ultra-processed foods as harmful as cigarettes, require stricter regulation: Study

By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ultra-processed foods are as harmful as cigarettes, not comparable to fruits or vegetables, and they should be regulated much more strictly, according to a new report published Tuesday.

The research, published in the journal Milbank Quarterly, noted similarities between the production of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and cigarettes, including how manufacturers design products to optimize “doses” and rapidly stimulate the body’s reward pathways.

“Many UPFs share more characteristics with cigarettes than with minimally processed fruits or vegetables and therefore warrant regulation commensurate with the significant public health risks they pose,” the study said.

It also said marketing labels such as “low fat” or “sugar free” amount to “health-washing” that can delay regulation, comparing them to 1950s cigarette filter advertising that claimed protection but provided little real benefit.

The report stressed that ultra-processed foods meet “established benchmarks” for addiction, citing design features that can drive compulsive use, while stressing that their harms are evident regardless of whether they are considered addictive.

Although food, unlike tobacco, is essential for survival, the study said this makes action even more urgent, as it is difficult for people to avoid the modern food environment.

The researchers called for tighter public health action, saying tobacco-style measures such as legal action, strict marketing controls and structural reforms should be used to reduce harms from ultra-processed foods, with responsibility placed more firmly on the food industry rather than individuals.