The Growing Awareness of the Dangers of Ultra Processed Foods
Its amazing how quickly a topical concept spreads. Ultra processed foods have been around for a while but only relatively recently has it become obvious that many of these foods are quite obviously deleterious to human health – and in numerous different ways at that.
Recently, much of the media has published articles pointing out the dangers of UPF over consumption and debating the various means by which production and consumption of UPF could be curtailed.
I am frequently appalled by the amount of money our family spends on food. As far as I’m concerned, it is seriously ordinary food. Its proteins like basic cuts of red meat, chicken and fish (occasionally). Veggies, include gem squash, carrots, potatoes, greens such as means. We eat a lot of basic salads comprising lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes. Then add milk, eggs, cheese, bread, oats porridge, tea and coffee.
Our menus are very basic yet they would be very expensive for many people. In fact, our food bill would be unaffordable for many.
There are cheaper food options in every supermarket. You will find them in the shelves that house tinned food or ready-made food or desserts such as ice cream or bread. These are ultra processed foods.
UPFs are vastly cheaper than the real food that we try to comprise our menus and the price gap grows larger every month. It is therefore difficult to blame anyone who believes that the only way to feed her or his family is to purchase these foods.
And yet we know that UPFs are harmful to us (See other posts) What can be done to curb the ever-increasing consumption of UPFs?
The policy experts are divided over this. Some would attempt to convince consumers through a media campaign while placing no restrictions on the manufacture of UPFs
Others would lobby governments to regulate manufacturers by imposing standards on the additives that can used for manufacture of foods or to tax UPF sales heavily so that the price differential between UPF and other foods is reduced.
None of these proposals – and many others- is guaranteed to lower UPF consumption. Yet this must be done.
Consider this from the Guardian of 6 March 2024. “There is more than ample evidence that consumption of too much ultra-processed food is linked to poorer health outcomes. Most recently a meta analysis of 45 different studies encompassing nearly 10 million people and published in the British Medical Journal reported links with 32 health concerns, spanning early death, cancer, mental health, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and metabolic health outcomes.”
See here for further articles on ultra processed foods.