Ultra-processed foods ‘should be treated like cigarettes’

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Researchers say ultra-processed foods, known as UPFs, are engineered to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated in a similar way to tobacco. The report says UPFs have more in common with cigarettes than with fruit or vegetables and require much tighter controls.

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00:00Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food, according to a new study.

00:07Researchers say ultra-processed foods, known as UPFs, are engineered to encourage addiction and consumption,

00:14and should be regulated in a similar way to tobacco.

00:17The report says UPFs have more in common with cigarettes than with fruit or vegetables.

00:23Researchers from three US universities say both UPFs and cigarettes are designed to maximise consumption and are linked to widespread health harms.

00:32Ultra-processed foods are industrially manufactured products, often using emulsifiers, artificial colouring or flavourings.

00:41They include soft drinks and packaged snacks.

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