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Have you ever wondered why it’s so incredibly difficult to turn down those foods you know are bad for you? You can hear from every expert that you should eat fresh carrots for a snack, but there’s a little devil on your shoulder that overrides them all and sends you reaching for the sweet, salty, or fatty treats that won’t stop calling your name.
Let’s be honest, for many of us, those sugary, processed foods are going to taste a lot better than any vegetables. But what if there was a man-made reason for that? Keep reading, as there just might be!
An interesting new article in the Washington Post ties some of our favorite processed foods to a source that might surprise you—cigarette manufacturers.1
The Turning Point
Think about some of the names are you so familiar with on the grocery store shelves. Kraft has a wild array of foods, and General Foods might have even more.
Even if you don’t recognize the names of these parent companies, you certainly recognize the names of their products. Think about Oreos, the original Kraft “blue box” macaroni and cheese, Cadbury Crème Eggs, and Maxwell House Coffee. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, as these companies take up an enormous market share and real estate in your local supermarket.
But did you know that all the major food companies were owned by only a few entities in the 1980s? During the 80s and 90s, Philip Morris and R. J. Reynolds – otherwise known as “Big Tobacco” – owned the majority of U.S. food companies, and it literally changed the foods we eat.
The Rise of Hyper-palatable Foods
According to research published in the journal Addiction, the ownership of major food companies by Big Tobacco happened during the rise of what they call hyper-palatable foods.2 These are foods loaded with sugar, fat, and sodium-- all elements of food that taste delicious.
Throw in some other additives that overwhelm the taste buds and light up reward centers in the brain, and suddenly you have created foods that make the average person crave them – and thus, overeat. Some would even say these carefully crafted foods were created to be addictive.
These foods became quite popular during the 1980s and are still going strong into the current day, but the greatest growth happened during the decades when tobacco companies reigned over food manufacturers, from 1988 to 2001. Recent research has found that during that time, the foods sold by other companies were much less likely to be “hyper-palatable” than those produced and sold by the companies owned by Big Tobacco. Brands owned by tobacco companies were 80% more likely to have foods created with potent combinations of carbs and sodium to make them extra tasty, and 29% more likely to contain unique and heavy combinations of fat and sodium.
And as those foods became more common, the CDC says that obesity and diet-related diseases became more common as well. Cases of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that lead to a higher risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease, have risen dramatically since 1988. By 2012, more than a third of all U.S. adults met the criteria for the syndrome.3
Though the tobacco companies don’t own the food brands today, their impact remains. That’s because the industry was well-known for creating addictive substances, and that translated into creating foods that could be considered addictive as well. Though the companies might not have actually added addictive substances to these foods, they used food chemistry to put together a variety of foods to capture the attention of our taste buds in a way that natural foods simply don’t compare. Other food companies eventually jumped on board in order to compete. The result is a massive amount of processed foods that are highly appealing and feel addictive, especially for children.
Though these foods are made with ingredients you can find naturally, those ingredients were purified and concentrated. That means that they can more easily be absorbed into the bloodstream, where they have a profound effect on the brain. These foods light up the “reward centers” in the brain and make us want more of them. It’s the same principle as any addiction – to take something from nature and alter it in such a way that it becomes more rewarding and makes you come back for more.
Why Did Cigarette Companies Begin Selling Food?
The short answer: money.
The broader answer is that the executives realized they could use the flavors and additives they carefully created for cigarettes to influence food as well. They began by launching a project to create sugary drinks, with kids as the target audience.
A year or so later, the research led R. J. Reynolds to buy the company that made Hawaiian Punch. At that time, the drink was for adults – it was a cocktail mixer available in two flavors. Soon the brand was expanded to include 16 flavors that were preferred by kids.
That success led to other acquisitions, and in 1985, R. J. Reynolds acquired the National Biscuit Company, better known as Nabisco. One of the biggest wins from that purchase was the Teddy Grahams brand, which was marketed as a wholesome snack made of graham flour and other good-for-you ingredients. However, that was sheer marketing genius to hook adults and kids, because each serving of Teddy Grahams had less than two grams of graham flour – it was actually predominantly made of refined white flour.
Then came SnackWells cookies, which were low-fat or fat-free, depending upon the particular type. However, while many purchased the cookies because they had no fat and were purportedly “healthy,” that delicious flavor was made up of plenty of sugar and other ingredients. In fact, people binged on them and actually gained weight rather than lost it, which became known as the SnackWells effect.
This underlines the importance of knowing exactly what you’re getting. Choosing the foods that are healthiest for you and getting on a good exercise program are just as important as opting for the right medical alert necklace or driving the safest car. Take your time to look at what you are purchasing at the grocery store and put your health first, always!
Why Did Tobacco Companies Stop Making and Selling Food?
By the early 2000s, the methods the tobacco companies used to get people hooked on cigarettes had come back to haunt them. Large lawsuits were keeping the executives in court and the prospects looked quite grim for keeping up with their usual tactics. Company leadership warned that the food brands could face a similar fate, as individuals might see the negative health effects of processed foods, especially the urge to eat them compulsively. To avoid the food lawsuits that they feared would come, the tobacco companies began selling off their food companies.
But did the era of highly addictive foods end there?
Unfortunately, the companies that bought the brands figured out how to not only make them even more addictive, but also started using those techniques on their own formulations. And that’s why processed and ultra-processed foods fill grocery store shelves today.
Better Food Options for Senior Health
It might sound like getting away from processed foods is a losing battle. They’re everywhere! But there are ways for seniors to eat a healthier diet.
· Shop on the outside aisles. In many cases, ultra-processed foods are in the center section of the grocery store, on the shelves. One rule of thumb says that if it’s in a box, it’s more than likely an ultra-processed food. The outside aisles are home to fresh meats and veggies, fruits, and dairy products.
· Read the labels. Just as you wouldn’t choose an in-home or mobile button alarm without getting all the details, don’t choose foods without knowing exactly what you’re getting. Look for foods with simple ingredients that you can pronounce and understand. If you’re not sure what a particular ingredient is, write it down and look it up later.
· Start with fresh foods. When you’re filling up your cart, hit the produce and fruit sections first. This means that you are buying perishable items, so it’s also a good idea to shop more frequently so that the good stuff doesn’t go to waste. The more fresh foods to fill up your plate, the fewer processed foods you will have room for.
· Make your own. Rather than buy those cookies you’re craving, why not make them yourself at home? This allows you to choose the ingredients you put into the mix and switch things up to make them healthier, such as using some whole wheat flour as you’re blending that cookie dough.
· Switch to whole grains. Speaking of switching things up, start phasing out your refined foods. For instance, opt for brown rice instead of white rice, and use more whole-wheat flour over all-purpose flour. Start cutting down on refined sugar in favor of things like maple syrup and honey.
· Change gradually. Taper away from processed foods slowly and mindfully.
· Drink a lot of water. Fill up a bottle with ice and water, and drink a sip anytime you feel a craving. Not only does it help you stay hydrated, it also ensures that you are filling up your stomach a little bit more, which might help you eat a little bit less. Over time you will get accustomed to drinking water instead of soda or other sugary beverages. If you really can’t stand the taste of plain water, try adding lemon, lime, or cucumber.
To promote senior health and safety, turn to senior alert systems. The use of a medical alert, especially one with fall detection, can give seniors a lot of peace of mind. Simply press the button when you need assistance and bingo – a friendly voice is on the line to assist you. It doesn’t get easier than that! Here’s to better health!
