Ultra-Processed Foods Should Face Tobacco-Style Rules, Study Says

Researchers argue ultra-processed foods resemble cigarettes more than real food and need stricter regulation.
Scientists from Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Duke University say UPFs are engineered to drive addiction and overconsumption.
The study, published in Milbank Quarterly, links UPFs to widespread health harms similar to smoking.
Authors warn marketing claims like “low fat” can delay regulation, echoing historic tobacco tactics.
They call for measures such as marketing restrictions and stronger industry accountability.
Some experts caution comparisons may overreach, urging focus on diet quality and reformulation instead.