Are ultra-processed foods as harmful as cigarettes?
03 Feb 2026

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) share characteristics with addictive substances and warrant regulation due to their potential for compulsive use, a new study has claimed.

The research was conducted by a team of scientists from Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Duke University.

They found that both UPFs and cigarettes are engineered to encourage addiction and consumption, resulting in significant public health risks.

Similarities between UPFs and cigarettes
Global impact

UPFs are industrially manufactured food products that often contain emulsifiers or artificial colors and flavors. They include widely consumed items like soft drinks, crisps, and biscuits.

The study highlights similarities between the production processes of UPFs and cigarettes, as well as manufacturers' efforts to optimize product "doses" for quicker effects on the body's reward pathways.

'Health washing' marketing tactics
Regulation debate

The study also criticizes marketing claims such as "low fat" or "sugar free" as "health washing," which can delay regulation.

This is similar to how cigarette filters were marketed in the 1950s as protective innovations that offered little real benefit.

The researchers argue that many UPFs are more similar to cigarettes than the minimally processed fruits or vegetables, and therefore require regulation in line with their significant public health risks.

Addiction parallels drawn by patients
Addiction links

Professor Ashley Gearhardt, a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction, revealed that her patients have drawn similar parallels between UPFs and cigarettes.

They have expressed feelings of addiction and cravings for certain food items, just like with cigarettes.

The study argues that the distinction between food (essential for survival) and tobacco makes action even more necessary because opting out of the modern food environment is difficult.

Potential benefits of regulation and cautions
Regulatory insights

The study suggests that lessons from tobacco regulation, including litigation, marketing restrictions, as well as structural interventions, could help reduce harm related to UPFs.

It calls for a shift in public health efforts from individual responsibility to food industry accountability.

However, Professor Martin Warren of the Quadram Institute cautioned against overreaching in comparisons between UPFs and tobacco without further research on their intrinsic addictiveness or health effects.