In the 1980s and ’90s, tobacco giants like Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds quietly infiltrated the American food industry, acquiring major brands like Kraft, Nabisco, and General Foods. Facing declining tobacco sales and mounting regulations, these companies used their expertise in addiction science to engineer hyper-palatable, highly processed foods. The result: a surge in obesity and diet-related illnesses across the U.S. Their strategy wasn’t just diversification—it was a calculated move to hook consumers on new forms of everyday addiction, one bite at a time.