A newly published study has suggested that many ultra-processed foods are intentionally formulated to encourage addictive eating behaviours, drawing comparisons with the way tobacco products were historically designed to keep consumers hooked. The research, published in The Milbank Quarterly, examined packaged snacks, sugary beverages, ready-to-eat meals, and numerous fast foods, concluding that these products are engineered to stimulate the brain’s reward system and encourage repeated consumption in a manner similar to cigarettes. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and Duke University. Their findings question...