Photo: Reuters
Ultra-processed foods, including fusion novelties like Oreo flavored with Coca-Cola or Coca-Cola with Oreo flavor, may affect the brain in ways similar to cigarettes.
Researchers note that these combinations pair novelty with nostalgia, creating a powerful psychological effect, according to The New York Post, citing a study published in Milbank Quarterly.
“Brand combinations such as Oreo with Coca-Cola flavor or Coca-Cola with Oreo flavor stimulate curiosity about new products while leveraging familiarity with popular brands,” the study says. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are specifically engineered to trigger strong food cravings, activating the brain’s reward system and prompting the release of dopamine, the pleasure hormone.
The peaks of this pleasure are short but intense, encouraging repeated consumption. The researchers draw a direct analogy between ultra-processed foods and cigarettes, noting that both can create habitual behaviors.
UPFs now make up over half of the American diet, containing high levels of sugar, salt, and fat, but very little fiber or nutrients. Their consumption has been linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Experts emphasize that while such snacks may seem like harmless indulgences, their impact on eating behavior and long-term health can be far more serious than it appears.
