How Ultra-Processed Food Harms Health and Society

The displacement of established eating habits by highly processed foods is a major driver of the globally increasing burden of diet-related chronic diseases, emphasize the 43 experts. They have examined, for a three-part analysis in the journal "The Lancet," how the industry boosts the sale of highly processed foods (English "ultra-processed food," or UPF for short) and what impact such products have on our lives.

UPF: Contains Additives, Hardened Oils, Syrup

According to the so-called Nova classification, highly processed foods are industrially manufactured products made from cheap ingredients such as hardened oils and glucose/fructose syrup, as well as additives like flavors and colorings, which usually undergo numerous processing steps. They are often ready-to-eat or just need to be heated, and typically have attractive packaging. Sugar, fat, or salt (or combinations thereof) are common UPF components, typically in higher concentrations than in processed foods, as the researchers explain.

Some critics did not consider it effective to categorize foods with potentially high nutritional value, such as fortified breakfast cereals and flavored yogurts, together with products like heavily processed meats or sugary drinks. "However, UPFs are rarely consumed in isolation," the researchers point out. It is about the general dietary pattern, where whole and minimally processed foods are replaced by processed alternatives.

Highly Processed Food: Share Is Increasing

The increasing share of ultra-processed foods in the human diet is being driven almost everywhere by the growing economic and political power of the UPF industry, the expert team explained. With an annual revenue of around 1.9 trillion US dollars in 2023, the sector is already the most profitable part of the global food industry, with a rising trend.

Sales have recently risen sharply, especially in low-income countries. In high-income countries like the USA or the UK, the share of highly processed foods in daily food intake is already up to 50 percent. "The increasing consumption of highly processed foods is changing dietary habits worldwide and displacing fresh and minimally processed foods and meals," said Carlos Monteiro from the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Fresh Foods Are Being Displaced

"In a market analysis of over 24,000 foods, my research group was able to show that about half of the products offered in German supermarkets are highly processed," said nutritionist Mathias Fasshauer from the Justus Liebig University Giessen, who was not involved in the "Lancet" series.

Germany is one of the countries with the highest per capita consumption of highly processed foods, explained health economist Peter von Philipsborn from the University of Bayreuth. "Studies consistently show that in Germany, fewer fresh, minimally processed foods are consumed than recommended, while products like soft drinks, sweets, salty snacks, and processed meat are consumed more often than recommended."

Lobbying Prevents Measures for Healthy Eating

The change in eating habits is being driven by powerful global corporations that generate enormous profits from highly processed products, said Monteiro. Through extensive marketing and political lobbying, they prevent effective measures to promote healthy eating.

For the consumer, the products are convenient: A frozen pizza is ready in a few minutes - whereas for a homemade one from the oven, dough must be prepared, vegetables chopped, and cheese grated. Additionally, ready-made products are often very cheap due to inexpensive ingredients and automated manufacturing processes, as the researchers explain.

Healthy Eating Hardly Affordable

Many people can no longer afford a healthy diet, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) caution in a commentary on the "Lancet" articles. "Foods that are part of a healthy diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes, are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many, while food products now known as ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are inexpensive and widely available worldwide."

According to the "Lancet" authors, dozens of studies show that a diet high in UPFs is associated with overeating, poor nutritional quality (too much sugar and unhealthy fats, too little fiber and protein), and a higher burden of harmful chemicals and additives. This increases the risk of numerous chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and depression.

Profit Over Health

The UPF industry prioritizes corporate profit over public health, according to "Lancet". The global spread of highly processed foods has become one of the most urgent yet inadequately addressed threats to human health in the 21st century, warns UNICEF in a commentary on the expert articles.

Children are particularly vulnerable to highly processed foods and their harmful effects, it also states. At the same time, daycare centers, schools, and nearby retail stores, sports, and recreational facilities are often flooded with UPFs - also through sponsorship agreements that normalize the consumption of UPFs.

UNICEF takes stock: "In light of the increasing evidence linking UPFs and ultra-processed dietary patterns to malnutrition and health issues in children, the question is not whether action is needed, but why so many countries have yet to take meaningful measures."

Measures Demanded

"Just as we took action against the tobacco industry decades ago, we now need a bold, coordinated global response to curb the disproportionate power of UPF corporations and build food systems that prioritize the health and well-being of people," said Karen Hofman from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).

Measures to reduce production, marketing, and consumption, such as taxing unhealthy goods, advertising bans, and quality standards for school and hospital kitchens, are necessary according to the authors, as well as combating high fat, sugar, and salt content and improving access to healthy foods. The latter could be achieved by taxing selected UPFs to fund subsidies for fresh food for low-income households.

Justice must be at the center, it was stated. "Consumption tends to be higher among people in economically challenging situations. Efforts to transition away from UPF-rich diets must not exacerbate gender inequalities in cooking or the food insecurity of populations reliant on affordable UPF products."

Regulations Are Blocked

The biggest obstacle to implementing political measures, according to the expert team, is that the industry fights against it through a global network of front organizations, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and research partners, blocking regulations. This involves direct lobbying as well as infiltrating government agencies and influencing public debate, for example, by deliberately sowing doubt about scientific findings.

"Food systems have evolved to prioritize the production, marketing, and consumption of ultra-processed foods," states "Lancet". Reversing this trend will be a long-term process. The global response is still in its early stages, similar to the tobacco control movement decades ago.

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(APA/Red.)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.