Ultra-processed Food - UPF

➡️ Ultra Processed Foods – The Cost of Convenience, Lobbying, and Health Implications

Processing food is not necessarily a bad thing. Ultra-processed foods, however, change the nature of the original ingredients through various industrial processes, leaving little, if any, of the original whole food and its nutrients behind. UPFs are not only high in salt, fat, and sugar, but they also have addictive qualities that make us more likely to overeat.

For decades, governments have allowed giant food and beverage corporations to make huge profits by marketing to children and adults, encouraging them to consume ultra-processed foods and beverages.

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Explore guides to related topics, including -

• Obesity and childhood obesity

• Diabetes

• Healthy diets

In the U.S., the rate of childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s – one in five children are now obese and over 40% of adults. Obesity is a huge risk factor for diabetes. More than 35 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, 90% of these are also obese.

Treating diabetes is costly. The situation is so dire that 10% of total healthcare expenditure in the U.S. now goes towards treating diabetes - the equivalent of $413 billion. This figure has risen 27% over the past six years. This is an extraordinary and unsustainable amount of money.

Closely linked, diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Studies have revealed that ultra-processed foods make up a jaw-dropping 73% of American food supply. Obesity is not just an American issue; it is now increasingly affecting low- and middle-income countries as well.

In Africa, the number of overweight children under five has increased by 3% since 2000. This deeply concerning trend of malnutrition (both malnourishment and obesity) is very closely linked to the rise of ultra-processed foods.

What are Ultra-Processed Foods?

The NOVA classification system categorises foods according to the extent and purpose of their processing. UPFs are typically made from substances extracted from foods or manufactured in laboratories from food origins or other organic sources.

Examples include carbonated drinks, packaged snacks, ready meals, meat products like sausages and nuggets, breakfast cereals, and instant noodles. These foods are significantly altered from their original form and are packed with additives like preservatives, sweeteners, taste enhancers, and colourings. The processing aim is to make these foods highly palatable and convenient but at the cost of nutritional value.

How do Ultra Processed Foods Affect Human Health?

UPFs are directly linked to 32 harmful health effects, including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, and early death.

Studies have revealed that higher UPF intake is associated with a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48-53% higher risk of anxiety and mental health disorders, and a 12% greater risk of type 2 diabetes.

Younger people, poorer people, and those from disadvantaged areas are more likely to consume these kinds of foods, in some cases up to 80% of total dietary intake.

Ultra-processed foods tend to be calorie-dense and nutrient-poor, often leading to overeating and nutrient deficiencies. People who consume high amounts of UPF have a 50% greater risk of developing obesity.

Ultra-processed foods are also bad for the environment – They require significant energy for processing, packaging, and transportation, contributing to carbon emissions and climate change. The packaging of ultra-processed foods is predominantly plastic, contributing massively to pollution and the plastics crisis.

The production of UPFs drives intensive mono-crop farming systems, which heavily burden our ecosystems, destroying habitats promoting deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Policies to Reduce Obesity and Diabetes

Efforts to curb the unrelenting growth in consumption of UPFs have had some success. The UK government introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy in 2017, also known as the Sugar Tax. The goal was to reduce sugar consumption by 20% by encouraging manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar in their products.

The tax halved sugar consumption by children in the three years following its introduction. It also raised £334 million in revenue.

A similar scheme was introduced in Mexico in 2014. By 2016, the purchasing of sugar-sweetened beverages had fallen by 37%. In South Africa, the Health Promotion Levy on sugary drinks was implemented in 2018; it led to a 57% reduction in consumption of these beverages, especially among lower socioeconomic groups.

The introduction of front-of-pack labelling to help consumers identify unhealthy foods and drinks is another method which has proven successful. A study by Lancet Public Health concluded that more than 9,000 heart disease-related deaths could be prevented in England over the next two decades if all restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, pubs and takeaways included calories on their menus.

In the past, policies tended to focus on the choices of everyday people rather than put the onus on corporations. Targeted policies are needed to encourage manufacturers to produce healthier products rather than relying on the healthy lifestyle choices of consumers.

Giant food and beverage corporations spend billions on careful marketing to entice consumers and the lobbying of governments to influence policy in their favour.

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO), for the first time, laid out clear guidelines encouraging governments to adopt stricter policies and regulations on marketing unhealthy foods to children. We already have evidence that measures like this work, as seen in the effective anti-smoking and tobacco policies from around the world.

Healthy Eating for a Better World

To promote healthier lifestyles and diets, governments must step up and introduce taxes on unhealthy products, restrict the marketing of UPFs, and end lobbying by big food corporations.

The World Obesity Atlas in 2023 predicted that the global economic impact of obesity will reach $4.32 trillion annually by 2035 if prevention and treatment measures are not improved. It is in everyone's interest to cut the production and sale of UPFs dramatically.

Whole foods and minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and lean meats are better for the planet and our bodies. Transitioning to a diet rich in these foods involves not only individual choice but also broader systemic support.

Education on nutrition and cooking skills from an early age can empower individuals to make healthier food choices later in life. Public health policies play a crucial role, as well as introducing subsidies for healthier food options.

Meal planning, cooking at home, and being mindful of ingredient labels can help consumers avoid ultra-processed foods and embrace a healthier, more sustainable diet.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 21.12.24 licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

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