‘Tobacco is responsible for America’s obesity and chronic illness’: RFK Jr. says cigarette giants engineered addictive foods | World News – The Times of India

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has blamed Big Tobacco for helping drive America’s obesity and chronic disease crisis by shaping the modern ultra-processed food industry. In a 77 WABC radio interview, Kennedy claimed cigarette companies, facing lawsuits and tightening regulation over smoking, diversified into food by buying major brands and applying the same research approach used to increase cigarette dependence. He argued that this “addiction science” was redirected towards engineered foods designed to keep people eating, contributing to rising levels of obesity, diabetes, and other long-term health problems.

What RFK Jr. said about addictive foods

Kennedy said tobacco firms such as Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds moved into the food sector as public pressure mounted against cigarettes. He claimed they purchased major packaged food companies and used scientific expertise to design products that encouraged repeat consumption.He also used blunt language to describe these foods as chemically engineered to taste good while offering little nutritional satisfaction, saying this pattern helped fuel overeating and worsening health outcomes.Kennedy is not claiming tobacco is literally being mixed into food. His argument centres on product engineering and the idea that companies can design foods to maximise cravings and repeat consumption.In practice, researchers and public health experts often point to features of many ultra-processed foods such as high levels of added sugars, salt, and fats, as well as textures and flavour profiles built to make eating effortless and highly rewarding.

The tobacco-to-food link and corporate history

Kennedy’s comments draw attention to a real historical overlap between tobacco companies and major packaged food ownership in the late 20th century. During that period, tobacco firms acquired and controlled large food brands, expanding their influence far beyond cigarettes and into everyday diets.Supporters of the broader argument say this corporate crossover matters because tobacco companies were known for sophisticated marketing, consumer research, and product optimisation, all of which can shape what people crave and consume.

Why the “addiction science” framing is being debated

The idea that ultra-processed foods may drive addiction-like eating patterns has gained attention in recent years, as researchers examine why some products trigger strong cravings, repeated snacking, and difficulty cutting back even when health risks are clear.This remains a contested scientific area, but it has become a powerful political argument because it shifts the discussion from personal discipline to how products are designed and marketed at scale.Kennedy framed the issue as a public health emergency that requires systemic action. His remarks align with the “Make America Healthy Again” messaging, which focuses on reducing chronic disease rates and shifting the national diet away from heavy reliance on ultra-processed foods.The comments also arrive alongside broader discussions in Washington about dietary guidance, food industry accountability, and whether stricter regulation is needed to reduce obesity and diet-linked illness.Kennedy’s claims are likely to intensify debate over the food industry’s role in public health. That includes questions about how ultra-processed foods are engineered, how they are marketed, and what standards should apply when products are tied to rising levels of obesity and chronic disease.For now, his central message is clear: he wants the obesity crisis treated as an issue of corporate influence and engineered consumption, not simply individual choice.