An international group of researchers has issued a stark warning that the rising global consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) poses a serious threat to public health. Three studies on this issue were published in the leading medical journal, The Lancet.
UPFs, or ultra-processed foods, are industrially produced products that have lost most of their natural form and contain many unhealthy ingredients—sugar, fat, salt, flavorings, preservatives, and others. These foods are created in factories through chemical processes to be tastier, cheaper, and long-lasting, but are largely less healthy.
The studies showed that a diet rich in UPFs sharply increases the risk of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and ultimately leads to premature death. It was noted that in some countries around the world (e.g., the US, the UK), more than half of the consumed calories come from UPFs.
The researchers primarily blame eight major corporations (including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola) that engage in aggressive marketing of such products. The scientists are urging governments to take immediate action:
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Tax the producers of such foods and use the revenue to subsidize cheaper natural foods.
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Restrict marketing (especially that directed at children).
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Place warning labels on packaging.
Although debates are ongoing, the researchers state that the threat is so significant that action should no longer be delayed.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are products that are made not directly from natural food, but from a combination of substances derived from cheap ingredients (oils, starches, sugars) and industrial additives.
The production process of ultra-processed foods aims to artificially improve the product’s taste, color, or shelf life and include additives that we do not use in home cooking (for example, emulsifiers, artificial flavorings, sweeteners). As a result, these foods often have a low nutritional value – they are typically high in calories, fat, salt, and sugar, but poor in essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
