Mapping corporate ties between ultra-processed food and petrochemical industries

Summary

This study mapped the business connections between companies that make ultra-processed foods (think packaged snacks, sodas, and instant meals) and the petrochemical industry, which supplies the plastics and chemicals used to grow ingredients and package these products. The findings suggest these two industries are more financially intertwined than most people realize, meaning your food choices may be tied to fossil fuel companies' bottom lines, and to your exposure to plastic packaging chemicals and microplastics that can leach into food. Understanding these corporate links matters because it helps explain why UPFs are so cheap and widespread, and raises questions about whether health and environ