By Vijay Kumar Malesu Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Jun 4 2026 New research reveals how major tobacco companies used cigarette-era business tactics to expand packaged food empires, raising fresh questions about the global spread of ultra-processed and hyperpalatable foods. Study: Ultra-Processed Foods in the Global Food System: The Role of US Tobacco Companies . Image Credit:  Anastasiia Usenko / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the  American Journal of Public Health , a group