Here’s a shocker: your local supermarket might just be your friendly neighbourhood “dope dealer.” That’s right—the place where you pick up your weekly groceries could be seen as the equivalent of a low-level street dealer, peddling addictive substances to keep you hooked. This comparison might sound extreme, but the truth is that supermarkets are packed with products designed to keep you coming back for more, much like a drug dealer keeps customers reliant on their supply. And just like drugs, these products are slowly killing us.

The Science Behind the Addiction

We’re all familiar with the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, which is the source of powerful drugs like morphine and heroin. Just as the poppy can produce both life-saving medications and lethal narcotics, the food we consume can also be processed into good or bad products. Think of natural, wholesome foods like cheese, yogurt, seeds, and nuts—these are the “good” outcomes of food processing. But more often, food is processed in ways that turn it into something harmful.

I’m talking about hyper-palatable foods—those engineered with the perfect mix of sugar, fat, and salt to trigger the brain’s reward system. This carefully calculated combination releases dopamine, the same neurotransmitter that’s associated with pleasure and reward, much like heroin offers a “hit” to the user. This hit isn’t accidental; it’s designed to create a cycle of craving and consumption that’s hard to break. Just like addictive drugs, these foods alter our brain chemistry, making us want more, even when we know they’re bad for us.

The Role of the Pushers

Supermarkets, our modern-day pushers, play a central role in this system. Unlike illegal drug dealers, these pushers operate in broad daylight, occupying prime locations in our towns and cities. They flaunt their addictive substances at eye level on shelves and near checkout counters, making sure you can’t miss them.

And just like drug dealers who target vulnerable customers, supermarkets often aim their most addictive products at children. Bright packaging, special offers, and misleading health claims are all part of the strategy. The convenience and affordability of processed foods make them hard to resist, but this convenience comes at a massive cost to our health.

The Big Fish

Just like in the illegal drug trade, the local pushers—our supermarkets—aren’t the ones who profit the most from this addiction. The real “big fish” are the multinational food corporations like Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever. These giants dominate the market, using sophisticated marketing strategies to ensure their products become household staples across Western Europe and Ireland.

Supermarkets also profit from this system, as these processed foods are cheap to stock, have long shelf lives, and generate high sales volumes. Chains like Tesco, SuperValu, and Dunnes Stores in Ireland, or Carrefour and Lidl across Europe, make significant profits from the sale of these foods. They often negotiate favourable terms with manufacturers, further boosting their margins—all while being fully aware of the dangers these products pose to public health.

The Impact on Addicts

While the big fish and the pushers profit, the cost to consumers—the addicts in this scenario—is staggering. The widespread availability and aggressive marketing of addictive processed foods contribute to poor dietary habits, leading to skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. In Ireland, for instance, rising obesity rates have become a public health crisis, with processed foods playing a significant role.

Conclusion

So yes, your local supermarket can indeed be seen as a “dope dealer,” pushing highly addictive processed foods onto unsuspecting consumers. This isn’t just a coincidence—it’s the result of deliberate strategies by food corporations and supermarkets to maximise profits, with little regard for the damage they’re causing.

The winners in this system are the large food manufacturers and supermarket chains, while the losers are the consumers, who pay the price with their health. To break this cycle, it’s crucial for individuals to be aware of these tactics and to make conscious choices about what they put in their shopping baskets—and what they feed their families. In a world where profits are prioritised over health, it’s up to us to resist the pushers and reclaim control over our diets.

And to finish up, here’s a list of some processed and sugary foods available on Irish supermarket shelves that contain high levels of sugar, fat, and salt, a combination that is used by processors to create addiction among consumers. These are only examples, there are thousands more.

As you read the list, consider how often you or someone you know has called any of these food moreish or addictive.

Snacks and Crisps:

1. Walkers Crisps – Known for their variety of flavours and high salt content.
2. Tayto Crisps – A popular brand with a range of flavours, often high in salt and fat.
3. Pringles – Potato crisps with a unique texture and flavour, high in fat and salt.

Sugary Cereals:

1. Cocoa Pops – A chocolate-flavoured cereal high in sugar.
2. Froot Loops – Brightly coloured cereal with high sugar content.
3. Lucky Charms – A sugary cereal with marshmallow pieces.

Chocolate Bars:

1. Cadbury Dairy Milk – A classic chocolate bar with high sugar content.
2. Galaxy – Known for its smooth texture and high sugar levels.
3. Mars Bars – A combination of caramel, nougat, and chocolate.

Cookies and Biscuits:

1. McVitie’s Digestives – Though marketed as a healthier option, they still contain significant amounts of sugar and fat.
2. Oreo Cookies – Cream-filled cookies high in sugar and fat.
3. Cadbury’s Chocolate Digestives – Chocolate-coated biscuits with high sugar content.

Sugary Drinks:

1. Coca-Cola – A popular carbonated drink high in sugar.
2. Pepsi – Another carbonated beverage with high sugar content.
3. Red Bull – An energy drink with high sugar levels and caffeine.

Ice Cream:

1. Ben & Jerry’s – Known for its rich, indulgent flavours with high sugar and fat.
2. Haagen-Dazs – Premium ice cream with high sugar and fat content.
3. Magnum – Ice cream bars with rich chocolate coatings and high sugar levels.

Processed Foods:

1. Kraft Mac & Cheese – A processed meal with high levels of fat and salt.
2. Instant Noodles – Often high in salt and fat, with added flavorings that can be addictive.
3. Frozen Pizza – Typically high in fat, salt, and processed cheese.

Confectionery:

1. Haribo Gummies – Chewy candies high in sugar.
2. Tic Tac Mints – Small, sugary mints that can encourage frequent consumption.
3. Skittles – Colourful candies with high sugar content.

Breakfast Bars:

1. Nature Valley Granola Bars – While marketed as healthy, many varieties contain high amounts of sugar.
2. Special K Bars – Often high in sugar, despite being marketed as a healthy option.
3. Clif Bars – Energy bars with significant sugar content.

These products are all designed to be enticing and can often lead to overconsumption due to their addictive qualities. I am not saying that you should never eat these products, but rather that being aware of them and their impact on your diet can help you make more informed choices and seek healthier alternatives.