Study: Big Tobacco’s Secret 'Brain Hack' Research Helped Make Lunchables Addictive For Kids
studyfinds.com
Big Tobacco owned Lunchables for 23 years and used cigarette science to engineer it. Here's what internal documents reveal.

Philip Morris Companies, the tobacco giant behind Marlboro, owned Lunchables for 23 years and used cigarette research strategies to shape the brand.

  • Internal documents show Philip Morris shared scientists, technology, and product development methods across its tobacco, food, and alcohol divisions, with Lunchables serving as a model example of that strategy.
  • Lunchables was engineered to appeal to kids’ desire for autonomy and to ease mothers’ guilt, using the same consumer psychology approach Philip Morris developed for cigarettes.
  • Researchers say tobacco-style regulations, including warning labels, taxes, and restrictions on child-focused marketing, may be worth applying to ultraprocessed foods like Lunchables.
  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    I don’t have time to watch this now, but I got as far as, “propaganda is kind of a dirty word now because of Germany, so I had to come up with a new way to call it something.” That’s where Public Relations comes from. It seems like a great watch.

    • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      I consider this required viewing for everyone. Hope you find the time to finish it. It is four hours and very much worth the time.

      • pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Okay, I watched. So incredibly good. I HATE that Freud nephew dude. Same as his daughter. Both pieces of shit.

        Question: How did you know to watch it? It’s from 2002. Still very relevant and explains so much. I’m just wondering how you found it?

        • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          A longtime friend of mine and I often go into deeper discussions of a myriad different topics and on that occasion it was probably something about propaganda. My friend is also quite keen on discovering films and documentaries and sharing them with me, so he was aware of and suggested Adam Curtis and his works. This was perhaps ten or so years ago. Quite glad of that.

          This doc is one of those big reveals. The curtain gets pulled back and you see the levers being pulled. Being aware of these elements is extremely important, but alas most are not.

          This would be required viewing in my education system and I’ve been telling others about it for years. Please do spread the word.

          • pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
            2·
            1 day ago

            Sounds like you 2 have an investigative podcast without any work or listeners, lol. Already have spread the word, thanks again.

        • paraphrand@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          2 days ago

          I’m here to just say it is worth your time. This and Hypernormalization are Adam Curtis’ best works. IMO.