Tobacco, alcohol and processed food industries – fitting them into the public health agenda

One thing even politicians can agree on is that we will all, eventually, die. But what we die of, and at what age, is changing. Non-communicable diseases are increasingly accounting for excessive morbidity and mortality burdens. Here, Katherine Smith and colleagues outline different approaches to public health, contrasting those who blame individuals and those who blame corporations for this transition. Comparing tobacco, alcohol and processed food industries helps outline an important research agenda.