LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – Ultra-processed foods are on the rise around the world and pose a serious threat to health. New studies show that these products not only dominate the diet, but are also linked to health damage in almost every organ system in the human body. The challenge is to regulate the influence of the food industry and promote healthier alternatives.
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Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are on the rise worldwide and pose a serious threat to health. According to one of the most comprehensive scientific reviews in the field, these products are linked to health effects in nearly all organ systems of the human body. In the United States, UPFs account for more than half of calorie intake in adults and over 60% in children. Similar numbers can be found in many other countries, indicating a global trend.
UPFs are not just fast food or soft drinks. They are foods that contain many ingredients and are made using methods that you couldn’t replicate at home. These products are often high in salt and sugar as well as numerous additives. They have unnatural textures and are usually ready to eat immediately or just need to be heated. Scientists use the Nova system to classify UPFs, with Group 4 comprising the ultra-processed foods.
Professor Carlos Monteiro, a Brazilian epidemiologist who coined the term ultra-processed foods, argues that UPFs have a fundamentally different chemical structure than “normal” foods. The processing process destroys the natural structure of the food, which leads to faster digestion and suppresses the feeling of satiety. This is a key reason why UPFs are harmful to health.
The proliferation of UPFs is not just due to consumer preferences. It is a business model that aims to maximize profits. UPFs are more profitable than fresh foods because they have a long shelf life and use cheap ingredients. The food industry relies on political activity to block regulations that could promote healthier foods. This is reminiscent of the tactics of the tobacco industry.
To counteract this development, experts are calling for aggressive regulation. This includes a ban on advertising UPFs to children, the removal of these products from schools and hospitals, and clear warnings about the level of processing. Brazil has already shown that such a policy is possible by drastically reducing the proportion of UPFs in school meals.
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