How Big Tobacco Built the Food Industry with David Chiu
February 26, 2026 · 44 min
Why listen
A city attorney explains how tobacco companies literally built the processed food industry and who is paying for it.
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In this episode
- How addiction science was used to engineer ultra-processed foods
- Why tobacco companies moved into the food business and what they brought with them
- How a landmark lawsuit aims to hold food manufacturers financially accountable
- The 1999 executive meeting where industry insiders predicted today's health crisis
About this episode
In this episode, Jeff sits down with San Francisco City Attorney, David Chiu, to discuss his first-in-the-nation lawsuit against major ultra-processed food manufacturers. Drawing parallels to Big Tobacco litigation, David explains how companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Kraft Heinz have used addiction science and deceptive marketing – often targeting children and low-income communities – to maximize profits while leaving taxpayers to cover the healthcare costs.
They explore the tobacco industry's direct involvement in building the processed food industry, the 1999 executive meeting that predicted devastating health consequences, and why this lawsuit could reshape how we think about America's food system.
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About Commune with Jeff Krasno
The Commune Podcast is where we explore the ideas and practices that help us live healthy, connected, purpose-filled lives.
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