by Anne MacLennan
The Lancet medical journal has recently published a series of strongly-worded articles about ultraprocessed foods (UPF). The authors write from a substantial evidence base, clearly deeply concerned about health and equity issues, and the lack of commercial and political response to the harms caused. See this infographic for a succinct summary.
The UPF industry is based on the large-scale processing of cheap commodities such as maize, soy and palm oil using food-derived substances like glucose/fructose syrup, and lots of additives to enhance texture, flavour or appearance. They are carefully engineered to be appealing, hyper-palatable, and often addictive.
A few transnational corporations (eg Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Unilever) control the industry and make big profits which then allow further market growth which increasingly displaces traditional nutrient-rich foods. Because the basics are cheap and mass-produced, UPFs are generally much cheaper than minimally-processed or unprocessed (real) foods, so the healthy options appear expensive. For those with a limited budget, choice is limited and consumers may be trapped into eating poor diets due to affordability. This is inequitable.
Profits also fund intens
ive lobbying of influential individuals and organisations to deter regulation. Marketing is aggressive and may be subtle, often targetting particular groups of people.
UPFs are linked to many chronic health conditions including obesity, diabetes, kidney, gut and cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders.
Alarmingly, UPFs have been linked to child malnutrition and poor health. Children are particularly vulnerable to UPFs. Taste preferences are formed early in life, so regular consumption of UPFs establishes a preference for sweet, salty and artificially-flavoured foods. The big companies know this and can manipulate the ‘digital ecosystem’ with algorithms to target children and adolescents with scary precision.
Planetary health is harmed too. Industrial production, processing, and transport are fossil-fuel intensive systems. Plastic packaging is often excessive so that the large UPF producers are also the worst polluters globally.
The Lancet authors want concerted local and global action to tackle the UPF industry and suggest ways that this could/should be done.
For those who haven’t watched Chris Van Tulleken’s documentary on UPFs and the extraordinary resource put into designing, engineering and marketing these products, I’d recommend a viewing. Click here.
The Food Day in Broadford next April will be an opportunity to share and find out more about eating for personal and planetary health as well as for pleasure. It will showcase local food production and different ways of preparing food and minimising waste . There will be tips for eating well on a limited budget. Let’s make Skye a Good Food Island.