Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study | Global development | The Guardian

A new report suggests that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) should be regulated like tobacco due to their addictive nature and associated health risks. Researchers argue that UPFs, which include soft drinks, packaged snacks, and fast food, are engineered to encourage consumption and are linked to obesity, cancer, and other diseases. The report calls for public health efforts to shift from individual responsibility to food industry accountability, similar to tobacco regulation.