UCSF Study Reveals How Philip Morris Used Tobacco Research to Design Lunchables for Children
A UC San Francisco study published in the American Journal of Public Health reveals how Philip Morris Companies Inc. leveraged its cigarette research, flavor engineering, and behavioral science expertise to design Lunchables after acquiring General Foods in 1985. The study uses internal company documents to show how tobacco industry strategies were applied to create ultra-processed foods that maximize appeal to children, shedding light on why such foods may lead to overeating and weight gain.
Key quotes
The UCSF study shows for the first time how the company used what it knew from formulating cigarettes to design Lunchables and maximize their appeal to children.
A new UC San Francisco study reveals how Philip Morris Companies Inc. used cigarette research, flavor engineering, and behavioral science to turn Lunchables into one of America's most successful ultra-processed foods for children.
The analysis, published June 3 in the American Journal of Public Health, sheds new light on how ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), like Lunchables, are designed—and why they may lead to overeating and weight gain.
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