Are Some Food Additives Addictive? Exploring the Science Behind Ultra-Processed Cravings

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, bright packets on supermarket shelves, quick snacks on the go, ready meals promising convenience, and sweets engineered to hit the spot every time. 

But many people are beginning to wonder: are these foods simply tasty, or are some of their additives designed to keep us coming back for more?

While “addiction” is a strong word, there’s growing discussion among researchers and nutrition experts about how certain additives, combined with highly processed ingredients, may influence cravings and eating behaviour. 

Here’s what we know so far.

What Makes a Food ‘Ultra-Processed’?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) typically contain:

Artificial flavours

Colourings

Emulsifiers

Sweeteners

Texture enhancers

Preservatives

Refined oils and starches

They’re often created to be irresistibly palatable, think uniform crunch, melt-in-the-mouth texture, or that perfect salty-sweet balance. These sensations don’t happen by accident.

The Science of Craving and Reward

Our brains are wired to seek out foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, survival mechanisms from a time when calories were scarce. UPFs often combine all three in a way that rarely occurs in nature, stimulating the brain’s reward pathways more intensely than whole foods.

Some key concepts:

1. Hyper-palatability

Foods engineered with the ideal mix of sugar, fat, and salt can trigger dopamine release, the same neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and reward. This can reinforce habitual eating, even when we’re not hungry.

2. Rapid absorption

Highly processed carbohydrates and sugars are digested quickly, causing glucose spikes and crashes. This roller-coaster effect can leave you reaching for another quick fix.

3. Sensory manipulation

Additives such as flavour enhancers and artificial aromas can amplify taste beyond natural levels. They create strong sensory associations, making certain foods feel “comforting” or “irresistible”.

Are Specific Additives Fueling the Problem?

There’s no single additive officially recognised as “addictive”, but several commonly used ingredients may contribute to overeating when combined within UPFs.

Sweeteners

Some studies suggest artificial sweeteners may intensify sugar cravings by maintaining a preference for very sweet tastes, even when calorie-free.

Flavour enhancers

Additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) can boost savoury flavours. For some, this enhances satisfaction; for others, it may encourage overconsumption.

Emulsifiers and stabilisers

Used to improve texture, these may alter gut microbiome balance in ways that affect hunger and fullness signals — an emerging area of research.

High-fructose ingredients

Fructose is processed differently by the body and may affect appetite hormones, potentially skewing satiety cues.

It’s crucial to note: none of these are addictive in the same sense as nicotine or alcohol. Instead, it’s the combination of additives, processing methods, and engineered flavour profiles that may lead to compulsive-style eating.

Why Ultra-Processed Foods Are Hard to Resist

UPFs are designed to be convenient, affordable, long-lasting, and delicious. From a business standpoint, the more you enjoy them, the more likely you are to buy them again. This creates a food environment where the easiest choices are often the most over-engineered.

Some characteristics that keep us reaching for more:

Soft, easy-to-chew textures, less effort means faster eating

Intense flavours that are difficult to replicate at home

Portion-distorting packaging (“grab bags” don’t encourage moderation)

Immediate sensory reward without long-term fullness

It’s a modern food equation: fast pleasure, slow health consequences.

What You Can Do to Stay in Control

You don’t need to cut out every convenience food. But small adjustments can reduce the power UPFs have over daily habits:

Cook simple meals at home a few times a week

Choose snacks with fewer ingredients, such as nuts, yoghurt, or fruit

Read labels and look for items with recognisable components

Balance your plate with protein, fibre, and healthy fats to stay fuller for longer

Be mindful of triggers, such as late-night snacking or stress eating

Remember: knowledge is power. Understanding how foods are engineered helps you make choices that serve your wellbeing rather than your cravings.

The idea that some food additives may be “addictive” isn’t about demonising ingredients. It’s about recognising how the modern food system blends science, flavour engineering, and marketing to create products that keep us coming back for more.

By becoming more aware of what’s in our food, and how it affects our brains and bodies, we can make clearer, more confident decisions about what we eat.

Why It’s Better to Eat Food Designed by Chefs or Cooks, Not Food Scientists

Too many additives? 

In an age where convenience often trumps tradition, many of the foods we eat are no longer prepared in a kitchen, but in a lab. 

While food scientists play a critical role in ensuring safety, shelf-life, and consistency, the difference between food designed by chefs and that created by food technologists is more than just semantics, it’s a matter of quality, nutrition, experience, and even trust.

Here’s why choosing food created by chefs and cooks is usually the better option:

1. Taste Comes First, Not Just Formulas

Chefs cook with passion and palates. Their focus is flavour, aroma, and texture — the elements that make a dish not just edible, but memorable. 

Food scientists, on the other hand, often develop recipes using spreadsheets and chemical equations. Their priority? Efficiency, preservation, and cost. That might mean more emulsifiers, artificial flavours, and texture enhancers... and a lot less soul.

2. Real Ingredients Over Additives

When chefs design meals, they use real ingredients: herbs, spices, fresh vegetables, quality proteins. Food scientists often work with powders, concentrates, gums, and stabilisers to replicate a version of food that can survive transport, temperature changes, and long shelf lives. The result? A food-like product that mimics the real thing but rarely delivers on nutrition or taste.

3. Chefs Understand the Human Side of Eating

Eating isn’t just about fuel. It’s about joy, culture, memory, and even therapy. Chefs and cooks craft meals that engage the senses and emotions — food that comforts, excites, and brings people together. Their creations are often inspired by tradition, creativity, and a desire to please diners. Food scientists, in contrast, are rarely designing for love — they’re designing for mass production.

4. Better for Your Health (Most of the Time)

Chef-made food tends to include fewer ultra-processed ingredients. It’s typically cooked fresh and enjoyed shortly after. Lab-designed meals — ready meals, heavily processed snacks, or instant foods, often rely on preservatives, salt, sugar, and fats to make them shelf-stable and palatable. The result is a range of products linked to weight gain, metabolic issues, and gut imbalances.

5. Chefs Are Transparent. Food Labs Often Aren’t

When you watch a chef cook, you can see what goes in. In a restaurant or open kitchen, transparency is part of the process. But when food is made in a lab, ingredients can have names that most of us can't pronounce. Consumers may not even realise what’s in their food or why it was added in the first place.

6. Supporting Craft and Culture

By choosing food made by chefs and cooks, you’re also supporting small businesses, independent restaurants, local producers, and culinary traditions. This means better food economies, more sustainable practices, and a greater diversity of dishes and cultural expression. Food scientists often work for conglomerates with very different priorities: uniformity, scale, and shareholder value.

7. The Intangible: Love, Skill, and Intuition

No algorithm can replicate the intuition of a good cook or the artistry of a great chef. The small adjustments — a splash more lemon, a touch more spice — that elevate a dish from good to exceptional are only possible when food is made by people who truly understand cooking.

Food made by chefs nourishes the body and the spirit. While food scientists have their place in ensuring safety and innovation, they should never replace the role of passionate cooks in our lives. If you want food that’s rich in flavour, full of life, and made with intention, choose meals created by chefs, not machines.

After all, would you rather eat something made with love, or something made for logistics?

Unveiling the Truth: Are Ultra-Processed Foods Bad for Us?

Consumers are worried about ultra-processed foods

In the age of convenience, where time is of the essence and hectic schedules dominate our lives, ultra-processed foods have become an integral part of many people's diets. 

From pre-packaged snacks to ready-to-eat meals, these highly processed food products offer quick solutions to our hunger pangs and cravings. But amidst the allure of convenience, a pressing question looms large: Are ultra-processed foods actually bad for our health?

To unravel this complex issue, let's delve into what ultra-processed foods are and how they impact our bodies.

Defining Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-processed foods are those that have undergone extensive processing, often involving multiple stages and the addition of various additives such as preservatives, flavour enhancers, and colourants. These products typically contain little to no whole foods and are high in refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium. Think of sugary cereals, instant noodles, and packaged snacks like crisps and biscuits. All quintessential examples of ultra-processed foods.

The Health Implications

Numerous studies have linked the consumption of ultra-processed foods to a range of adverse health outcomes. One of the most concerning associations is with obesity. These foods are often calorie-dense but nutrient-poor, leading to over-consumption and weight gain over time. Additionally, their high sugar and fat content can contribute to metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Moreover, the additives and preservatives present in ultra-processed foods have raised concerns about their potential long-term effects on health. Some studies suggest a possible link between the consumption of certain food additives and conditions like allergies and hyperactivity, although more research is needed to establish conclusive evidence.

The Role of Processing

It's essential to recognise that not all processed foods are created equal. While some processing methods, such as canning and freezing, can preserve the nutritional value of foods, others, like deep frying and hydrogenation, can strip them of essential nutrients and introduce harmful compounds.

Ultra-processed foods often undergo the latter type of processing, which significantly diminishes their nutritional quality. The excessive refining and addition of artificial ingredients further exacerbate their negative impact on health.

Making Informed Choices

In a world where ultra-processed foods are ubiquitous and temptations abound, making informed dietary choices is crucial for safeguarding our health. Opting for whole, minimally processed foods,  such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, can provide the nutrients our bodies need while minimising exposure to harmful additives and excessive amounts of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

However, it's also essential to acknowledge the socio-economic factors that influence food choices. For many individuals and families, access to fresh, whole foods may be limited by factors such as income, geographical location, and time constraints. Addressing these structural barriers is integral to promoting healthier eating habits and reducing reliance on ultra-processed foods.

The Bottom Line

While the occasional indulgence in ultra-processed foods may not spell disaster for our health, making them a staple in our diets can have detrimental consequences in the long run. By prioritizing whole, minimally processed foods and adopting balanced eating habits, we can nourish our bodies and promote overall well-being.

In conclusion, while the allure of convenience may make ultra-processed foods seem like an attractive option, it's essential to consider their potential impact on our health. By striving for a diet rich in whole, nutritious foods, we can take proactive steps towards a healthier future for ourselves and generations to come.

The Dark Side of Vegan Dairy Alternatives: Unveiling the Chemicals and Environmental Impact

As consumers of both dairy and non-dairy products, we make no comment on the contents of this blogpost. However, we are sharing it with our readers to help stimulate an informed debate on the subject of alternatives to dairy produce.

In recent years, the rise of veganism has spurred a massive demand for dairy alternatives. Whilst many embrace these substitutes as a healthier and more environmentally friendly option, the reality might not be as rosy as it seems at first glance,

Contrary to popular belief, many vegan dairy alternatives often come loaded with chemicals, contribute to environmental degradation, and can pose health risks to consumers.

The Chemical Conundrum: What's Hiding in Your Vegan Cheese?

One of the primary concerns with vegan dairy alternatives is the reliance on synthetic additives, stabilisers, and flavourings to mimic the taste and texture of dairy products. Ingredients like carrageenan, xanthan gum, and artificial flavours are commonly used to achieve the desired consistency and flavour, but they often come with a host of health risks.

Carrageenan, extracted from red seaweed, is a common thickening agent found in many plant-based milks and cheeses. However, studies have linked carrageenan consumption to inflammation, digestive issues, and even cancer in some studies. Similarly, artificial flavours and colours used in vegan dairy alternatives may contain chemicals that are potentially harmful to human health.

Environmental Impact: Are Vegan Alternatives Really Eco-Friendly?

While veganism is often touted as a more sustainable lifestyle choice, the environmental impact of dairy alternatives tells a different story. Despite what some campaigners have claimed, the production of ingredients like almond milk and soy milk requires vast amounts of water and land, leading to deforestation, habitat destruction, and depletion of natural resources.

Moreover, the processing and packaging of vegan dairy alternatives contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. From energy-intensive manufacturing processes to the disposal of non-biodegradable packaging materials, the ecological footprint of these products can be substantial.

Health Risks for Consumers: Unintended Consequences of Going Vegan

Despite being marketed as healthier options, vegan dairy alternatives may not always live up to their health claims. Many commercial varieties are high in added sugars, preservatives, and sodium to enhance flavour and shelf life. Excessive consumption of these additives can lead to various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Furthermore, the nutritional content of vegan dairy alternatives may not necessarily match that of their dairy counterparts. While they may be fortified with vitamins and minerals, they often lack essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and protein, leading to potential deficiencies in vegan diets.

A Call for Transparency and Conscious Consumption

In light of these concerns, it's crucial for consumers to be informed about the ingredients and production processes behind vegan dairy alternatives. By prioritising transparency and seeking out products made with wholesome, minimally processed ingredients, individuals can make more conscious choices for their health and the environment.

Additionally, supporting local and sustainable producers can help minimise the environmental impact of dairy alternatives whilst promoting healthier, more nutritious options. By advocating for stricter regulations on food labelling and ingredient transparency, consumers can empower themselves to make informed decisions and navigate the complex landscape of vegan food products.

In conclusion, while vegan dairy alternatives offer a cruelty-free and plant-based alternative to traditional dairy products, they are not without their drawbacks. 

From the use of synthetic additives to their environmental footprint and potential health risks, it's essential to approach these alternatives with caution and scrutiny. By promoting transparency, sustainability, and conscious consumption, we can strive towards a more ethical and balanced food system for both people and the planet.