Engineered to be as addictive as possible, hyper-processed foods are the new cigarettes

[SwampNut]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025gqs

 

Why are ultra-processed foods so irresistible, and how they have come to dominate food culture? This documentary by medical doctor and academic Dr Chris van Tulleken features interviews with former food industry insiders who talk openly about the way in which popular foods have been designed to be irresistible.

Food companies go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their products connect with consumers - from using brain scans to assess the deliciousness of ice cream to carefully engineering the sound of a crunch. Ultra-processed foods are hyper-delicious and super-convenient, have long shelf lives and are extremely cheap. But a growing body of evidence is linking these products to our declining health.

[Zero Knievel]

We knew this about McDonald’s French fries and anything using high fructose corn syrup many years ago.

[SwampNut]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thewarenglish_for-200-years-americans-were-lean-then-ugcPost-7360638725820731393-Bx5g?rcm=ACoAAACGpzoBQsUprGEh6SXVt6kDsXkxXUCK9Yo

 

 

For 200 years, Americans were lean. Then something changed in 1980 and obesity exploded. Obesity rates tripled from 13.4% to 34.3% in just 28 years. No, it wasn't because of less exercise… Here's what really happened: 1. The food industry engineered addiction Ultra-processed foods became staples of the American diet post-1980. These weren't just "convenient" - they were scientifically designed using: • Sugar • Salt • Fat Combinations to bypass your natural appetite controls. The result? Overconsumption became inevitable, not a choice.