Key facts
- Big Tobacco companies acquired major food companies like General Foods, Kraft, and Nabisco in the 1980s.
- Research and development from the cigarette industry influenced the creation of snack foods.
- These efforts focused on engineering foods for 'consumer pleasure'.
- This involvement contributed to the birth of the ultra-processed food industry.
A new study indicates that the tobacco industry, often referred to as 'Big Tobacco,' played a significant role in the development of the ultra-processed food industry. In the 1980s, tobacco companies began acquiring major American food corporations, including General Foods, Kraft, and Nabisco. Research and development efforts originating from the cigarette business were then applied to engineering snack foods, with a focus on maximizing 'consumer pleasure.' This strategic involvement by Big Tobacco is seen as a key factor in the subsequent growth and evolution of the ultra-processed food sector.