The paper "Food policies: balancing health and market in the era of ubiquitous ultra-processed foods" by Fabrizio Ferretti and Giulio Malorgio explores the increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their harmful health effects. It discusses how food manufacturers, driven by competition, create highly sophisticated and unhealthy food products, contributing to poor public health outcomes such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. The authors propose a model of oligopolistic competition, demonstrating that when firms compete on food formulation and processing, unhealthy food becomes a strategic equilibrium. The paper advocates for food policies that prioritize whole-food reformulation, rather than merely focusing on nutrient reduction, to counteract the adverse effects of UPFs and promote healthier eating habits.
Source: Canva