Missed signals: How PET imaging may fail to capture the addictive potential of ultra-processed foods

Abstract

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This letter responds to the study by Darcey et al.¹ The authors conclude that there was “no significant post-ingestive striatal dopamine response to an ultra-processed milkshake” and argue that this challenges the idea that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) drive overeating by triggering dopamine surges similar to those seen with drugs of abuse.¹While we appreciate research aimed at understanding how UPFs affect the brain and their role in obesity and metabolic syndrome, we believe key

Declaration of interests

The authors declare no competing interests.