Scientist who coined the term UPF says it should be heavily taxed given its impact on health and mortality
.jpeg "In the UK and US, more than half the average diet now consists of ultra-processed food.") |
| In the UK and US, more than half the average diet now consists of ultra-processed food. |
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are replacing healthy diets "all over the world," despite growing evidence about their risks, and should be sold with warning labels, like tobacco products, according to the nutritionist who coined the term.
Professor Carlos Monteiro of the University of São Paulo will highlight the growing dangers that UPFs pose to children and adults at the International Obesity Conference this week.
"UPFs are on the rise and dominate the world's diet, but they pose a health risk by increasing the risk of several chronic diseases," Monteiro told The Guardian ahead of the conference in São Paulo.
"UPFs are replacing healthier, less processed foods all over the world, and they are also contributing to a decline in diet quality due to their many harmful properties. Together, these foods contribute to the epidemic of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes."
Professor Carlos Monteiro of the University of São Paulo will highlight the growing dangers that UPFs pose to children and adults at the International Obesity Conference this week.
"UPFs are on the rise and dominate the world's diet, but they pose a health risk by increasing the risk of several chronic diseases," Monteiro told The Guardian ahead of the conference in São Paulo.
"UPFs are replacing healthier, less processed foods all over the world, and they are also contributing to a decline in diet quality due to their many harmful properties. Together, these foods contribute to the epidemic of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes."
The dire warning comes amid a rapid rise in the consumption of UPFs, including cereals, protein bars, sodas, convenience foods and fast food, worldwide.
In the UK and the US, more than half of the average diet now consists of highly processed foods. For some people, particularly the young, poor and disadvantaged, a diet with up to 80% UPFs is common.
The world's largest study of its kind, conducted in February, found that UPFs are directly associated with 32 adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health problems and premature death.
Monteiro and his colleagues first used the term UPF 15 years ago when they developed the Nova food classification system. It assesses not only the nutrient content but also the processing that takes place before the food is consumed.
The system categorizes foods and beverages into four groups: minimally processed foods, processed ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods.
In the UK and the US, more than half of the average diet now consists of highly processed foods. For some people, particularly the young, poor and disadvantaged, a diet with up to 80% UPFs is common.
The world's largest study of its kind, conducted in February, found that UPFs are directly associated with 32 adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health problems and premature death.
Monteiro and his colleagues first used the term UPF 15 years ago when they developed the Nova food classification system. It assesses not only the nutrient content but also the processing that takes place before the food is consumed.
The system categorizes foods and beverages into four groups: minimally processed foods, processed ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods.
Monteiro told the Guardian that he is now so concerned about the effects of UPF on human health that surveys and studies alone are no longer enough to warn the public about the health risks.
"Public health campaigns, such as those against tobacco, are needed to curb the dangers of UPF," he told The Guardian in an email. "Such campaigns would also include the health risks of ingesting UPF."
"Advertising for UPF should also be banned or severely restricted, and front-of-pack warnings similar to those found on cigarette packets should be introduced."
He will tell delegates that "sale of UPF should be banned in schools and health facilities, and UPF should be heavily taxed, with the revenue used to subsidize fresh food."
Monteiro will tell the conference that food giants selling UPF know that to compete, their products must be more convenient, affordable and tastier than freshly prepared meals. "To maximize profits, these UPF need to be produced more cost-efficiently and consumed in excess," he said.
"Public health campaigns, such as those against tobacco, are needed to curb the dangers of UPF," he told The Guardian in an email. "Such campaigns would also include the health risks of ingesting UPF."
"Advertising for UPF should also be banned or severely restricted, and front-of-pack warnings similar to those found on cigarette packets should be introduced."
He will tell delegates that "sale of UPF should be banned in schools and health facilities, and UPF should be heavily taxed, with the revenue used to subsidize fresh food."
Monteiro will tell the conference that food giants selling UPF know that to compete, their products must be more convenient, affordable and tastier than freshly prepared meals. "To maximize profits, these UPF need to be produced more cost-efficiently and consumed in excess," he said.
He would also draw a parallel between UPF and tobacco companies. "Both tobacco and UPF cause a lot of serious illness and premature death. Both are produced by multinational corporations that invest huge profits from their attractive and addictive products in aggressive marketing strategies and lobbying against regulation. And both are inherently pathogenic, so reformulation is not the solution."
Dr. Hilda Mulrooney, lecturer in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, said it was "very simplistic" to compare UPF to tobacco, however.
"There is no such thing as a safe cigarette, and banning even passive tobacco is relatively easy, because the health aspects are very clear.
"But we need different nutrients - fats, sugars, salts - and they serve multiple functions in food, not just for taste, aroma and hedonic properties, but also structure, shelf life.
"It's not as simple as reformulating some types of food to reduce them. And it's not the same as tobacco, because we need food, it's just not in the amounts that most of us consume."
Dr. Hilda Mulrooney, lecturer in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, said it was "very simplistic" to compare UPF to tobacco, however.
"There is no such thing as a safe cigarette, and banning even passive tobacco is relatively easy, because the health aspects are very clear.
"But we need different nutrients - fats, sugars, salts - and they serve multiple functions in food, not just for taste, aroma and hedonic properties, but also structure, shelf life.
"It's not as simple as reformulating some types of food to reduce them. And it's not the same as tobacco, because we need food, it's just not in the amounts that most of us consume."
References
Monteiro, C. A., et al. "Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them." Public Health Nutrition 22.5 (2019): 936-941.
Fardet, A. "Minimally processed foods are more satiating and less hyperglycemic than ultra-processed foods: A preliminary study with refined and unrefined bread." Foods 5.4 (2016): 34.
Moubarac, J. C., et al. "Consumption of ultra-processed foods and likely impact on human health. Evidence from Canada." Public Health Nutrition 21.1 (2018): 1-11.
Cediel, G., et al. "Ultra-processed foods and added sugars in the US diet: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study." BMJ Open 8.3 (2018): e020574.
WHO. "Reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages." World Health Organization, 2021.
Implementing comprehensive, well-informed strategies could significantly reduce the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods and improve the overall well-being of populations worldwide.
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