From Tobacco to Ultraprocessed Food: How Industry Engineering Fuels the Epidemic of Preventable Disease
UPFs should be evaluated not only through a nutritional lens but also as addictive, industrially engineered substances. Lessons from tobacco regulation, including litigation, marketing restrictions, and structural interventions, offer a roadmap for reducing UPF-related harm. Public health efforts must shift from individual responsibility to food industry accountability, recognizing UPFs as potent drivers of preventable disease.
Authors
- Allan M. Brandt
- KELLY D. BROWNELL
- ASHLEY N. GEARHARDT
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- Duke University (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Milbank Quarterly
- Published
- 2026-02-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.70066
- Primary Topic
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Vital Strategies