Big tobacco hooked us on ultra-processed foods. It might teach us how to cut back

Long ago, tobacco companies made cigarettes that could addict people. They used special ways to make cigarettes taste good and make people want more. Then, in the 1980s, these tobacco companies started to buy large food companies. They began to use the same methods for food. They made ultra-processed foods, like sugary drinks and salty snacks, in a way that makes people want to eat a lot.

A researcher named Laura Schmidt studies old papers from tobacco companies. She says these companies used their knowledge to make processed foods more tempting. Other researchers agree. They say ultra-processed foods are now a big problem for health in America. These foods can cause many sicknesses.

Many experts now say we must fight ultra-processed foods. They think we should use the same plans that helped people stop smoking cigarettes. This means helping people understand the dangers and find ways to eat less of these foods. The goal is to make people healthier.