What is ultra-processed food and what does it mean for your health? | BBC News

Summary

The discussion focuses on the rising concern over ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which make up around 60% of modern diets. Dr. Chris Tal, a physician and researcher, explains the harmful effects of UPFs, which contain ingredients not typically found in home kitchens and contribute to poor health outcomes. He criticizes the lack of regulation in countries like the UK and highlights how low-income communities are disproportionately affected. Tal advocates for clearer labeling and making healthier, real foods more affordable. He also emphasizes the need for independent scientific advisory committees free from corporate influence.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up around 60% of diets, and there is concern over their health impacts.
• 📜 UPFs lack a universally settled definition but typically include ingredients not commonly found in home kitchens, such as stabilizers, emulsifiers, and flavorings.
• ⚠️ There is a distinction between processed foods, which have been part of human diets for centuries, and UPFs, which are industrially processed and profit-driven.
• 🌍 The marketing of baby food in low-income countries has been linked to infant deaths due to improper preparation, shifting the focus of health research to the impact of large companies on global health.
• 📊 Studies linking UPFs to poor health have been conducted globally, particularly in countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, which saw spikes in diet-related diseases after adopting North American diets.
• 🔍 Despite claims by the food industry, there is a settled definition of UPFs endorsed by organizations like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
• 🧪 Experimental evidence from institutions like UCL shows strong links between UPFs and negative health outcomes, surpassing the threshold for causality.
• 💡 UPFs are often high in salt, sugar, and fat, and though these are considered problematic, regulation on these ingredients in foods remains minimal in the UK.
• 🍞 Items like white bread and oat milk are also classified as UPFs due to their inclusion of industrial additives, although they may have some nutritional benefits.
• 💰 The challenge remains that UPFs are cheaper and more accessible than healthier food options, driving a need for warning labels and policies that lower the cost of real, nutritious food.

Q & A

What are ultra-processed foods (UPFs)?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially processed foods that contain ingredients not typically used in home cooking, such as stabilizers, emulsifiers, and flavorings. Examples include ready meals, pot noodles, sliced bread, and oat milk.

Why are UPFs considered harmful to health?

UPFs are linked to poor health because they often contain high levels of salt, sugar, and fat, which are known to contribute to diet-related diseases. Additionally, some additives used exclusively in UPFs may have negative health effects.

What motivated Dr. Chris Tal to investigate ultra-processed foods?

As an infectious disease doctor, Dr. Chris Tal's experience in humanitarian emergencies in Pakistan and Africa exposed him to the negative impacts of commercial baby food marketing, which led him to focus on how big companies affect nutrition, particularly in low-income communities.

What is the difference between processed and ultra-processed foods?

Processed foods have been altered for preservation or preparation, such as cooking or fermenting, and are part of traditional diets. Ultra-processed foods, on the other hand, are industrially manufactured with additives and are designed to be highly profitable.

How do ultra-processed foods affect low-income communities in different parts of the world?

In low-income countries, UPFs are often marketed aggressively, leading to poor health outcomes, especially among the poor. For example, in Latin America, the introduction of an American-style diet has caused a surge in diet-related diseases.

Is there a settled definition of ultra-processed foods?

Yes, there is a well-established definition of ultra-processed foods, endorsed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by various governments and research studies. This definition highlights the presence of industrial additives not used in home cooking.

What criticisms does Dr. Tal have regarding government regulations on UPFs?

Dr. Tal criticizes the lack of effective regulation on UPFs in countries like the UK, where food industry influence is strong. He calls for independent government scientific committees free from food industry ties and suggests policies like warning labels and making healthier food more affordable.

Why does Dr. Tal believe current studies are sufficient to prove UPFs cause health issues?

Dr. Tal argues that existing studies from reputable institutions like Harvard and Cambridge provide strong experimental evidence linking UPFs to health problems. He is also conducting a randomized control trial at University College London to further support this claim.

How are additives in UPFs harmful to health?

Certain additives found only in UPFs, like stabilizers and emulsifiers, can negatively affect health. For instance, additives in some types of bread may 'scrub out' the gut, disrupting healthy gut bacteria.

How does Dr. Tal suggest addressing the affordability issue of healthier food options?

Dr. Tal believes that real, unprocessed foods need to be made more affordable and accessible. While drawing lessons from tobacco regulation, he suggests starting with warning labels and implementing policies to reduce the cost of healthy foods.