Tobacco Industry Contributions to the Development of Ultraprocessed Food in the United States, 1985–2007: A Case Study of Lunchables.
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| Title: | Tobacco Industry Contributions to the Development of Ultraprocessed Food in the United States, 1985–2007: A Case Study of Lunchables. |
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| Authors: | Schmidt, Laura A. |
| Source: | American Journal of Public Health. Jul2026, Vol. 116 Issue 7, p940-949. 10p. |
| Subjects: | Packaged foods, Smoking, Consumer attitudes, Flavoring essences, Food safety, Health policy, New product development, Marketing, Child nutrition, Food industry, Food labeling, Tobacco products, Public health, Childhood obesity, Government regulation |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | We need to know how ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are designed and formulated to better understand why these products cause overeating and weight gain, and how to apply appropriate guardrails. This information, however, is typically kept hidden by UPF companies as proprietary trade secrets. Using previously undisclosed internal company documents, this study traced product development for Lunchables, a prepackaged meal brand developed at Kraft General Foods while it was owned by the tobacco giant Philip Morris Companies. Findings show that a key reason Philip Morris purchased food companies was to increase revenues by sharing proprietary research and development assets across tobacco and food product lines. Philip Morris applied its product development approach for making cigarettes to Lunchables in 2 important ways: First, it applied its "consumer-driven product development" strategy that optimized products for consumer pleasure and appeal. Second, Phillip Morris applied its "better-for-you" reformulation strategy, first used to create filtered Marlboro cigarettes, to develop Low-Fat Lunchables in efforts to keep consumers worried about childhood obesity loyal to the brand. These findings speak to the need for public health research and policies that extend existing models for regulating tobacco to UPFs. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(7):940–949. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308491) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | We need to know how ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are designed and formulated to better understand why these products cause overeating and weight gain, and how to apply appropriate guardrails. This information, however, is typically kept hidden by UPF companies as proprietary trade secrets. Using previously undisclosed internal company documents, this study traced product development for Lunchables, a prepackaged meal brand developed at Kraft General Foods while it was owned by the tobacco giant Philip Morris Companies. Findings show that a key reason Philip Morris purchased food companies was to increase revenues by sharing proprietary research and development assets across tobacco and food product lines. Philip Morris applied its product development approach for making cigarettes to Lunchables in 2 important ways: First, it applied its "consumer-driven product development" strategy that optimized products for consumer pleasure and appeal. Second, Phillip Morris applied its "better-for-you" reformulation strategy, first used to create filtered Marlboro cigarettes, to develop Low-Fat Lunchables in efforts to keep consumers worried about childhood obesity loyal to the brand. These findings speak to the need for public health research and policies that extend existing models for regulating tobacco to UPFs. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(7):940–949. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308491) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00900036 |
| DOI: | 10.2105/AJPH.2026.308491 |
