Ultra-Processed Foods: Here’s What the Evidence Actually Says About Them
- January 26, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Ultra-Processed Foods: Here’s What the Evidence Actually Says About Them
Subject: S&T
Section: Health
Context:
- The health risks of ultra-processed foods have gained attention recently, partly due to Chris Van Tulleken‘s book “Ultra-Processed People.”
Ultra-processed foods (UPF):
- UPF is an industrially formulated edible substance derived from natural food or synthesized from other organic compounds. The resulting products are designed to be highly profitable, convenient, and hyper-palatable, often through food additives such as preservatives, colourings, and flavourings.
- These are commercial food products that contain ingredients not typically used in home cooking, often designed to enhance flavour, extend shelf life, or reduce costs.
- While it’s known that foods high in saturated fats, salt, sugar, and calories, and lacking in whole grains and fibre contribute to health issues like obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, not all ultra-processed foods have these unhealthy nutritional profiles.
- The process of ultra-processing itself, rather than just nutritional content, is harmful and could be more deadly than tobacco and is the leading cause of early death globally.
Myths scrutinised:
- There is no scientific evidence that ultra-processed foods are the largest cause of death globally. This claim seems to misinterpret research suggesting poor diet is a leading cause of death, primarily due to inadequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, oily fish, or whole grains, not ultra-processed foods per se.
- Studies do show that diets high in certain ultra-processed foods, like sugary drinks and processed meats, are linked to poorer health. However, not all ultra-processed foods are detrimental, with some, like brown bread and cereals, even associated with better health.
- There’s no definitive evidence showing that food processing itself harms health. Expert panels in the US and UK, regardless of their funding sources, concur that the impact of food processing on health is not clear.
Source: The Wire