Fatty food fears could affect pubs

Food manufacturers are under pressure to cut the amount of fat and sugar in their products, after scientists discovered processed food could be as addictive as nicotine.

Researchers have discovered that sugary and fatty foods, which are often found on pub menus, cause a change in diners' brains, similar to that caused by nicotine and even hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

It means once addicted, people find it hard to eat healthily and can become morbidly obese.

And the evidence, from a study by Rockefeller University in New York, could open the floodgates for multi-million pound lawsuits by people who claim an addiction to fatty food has damaged their health.

Another study, by scientists at the University of Wisconsin, found rats fed a high fat diet became addicted and suffered withdrawal symptoms, similar to those suffered by drug addicts, if the fat was taken away.

The reports have the potential to change the face of the UK food industry completely. While fast food restaurants like McDonald's are bearing the brunt of the blame, pubs, restaurants and supermarkets could all come under fire for selling fatty food.

And manufacturers, many of which supply pubs all over the country, are being urged to change their products or face enormous legal fights.

Manufacturers of traditional pub grub favourites such as chips and burgers are worried the latest research could put them at risk from expensive legal action.

Professor Gary Slapper, from the Open University, told the Sunday Times​ he thought the first British case against food manufacturers was imminent.

"There is an obligation to make risks clear to consumers and failure to do so makes food companies liable," he said.