Ultraprocessed foods are everywhere. How bad are they?

One thing is for sure: when you need quick food that will essentially never go bad, preservatives are an effective solution.

“We have really good evidence that added sugar is not great for us. We have evidence that high-sodium foods are not great for us,” she said. “We have great evidence that fruits and vegetables which are minimally processed are really good for us.”

That is telling but the best evidence is this bit:

Food manufacturers argue that processing boosts food safety and supplies and offers a cheap, convenient way to provide a diverse and nutritious diet.

What else would manufacturers say? I sure don't believe them. The evidence is pretty clear that unprocessed food is much better, just by the weight loss statistics alone.

The definition of harmful ultra-processed foods is not just the processing, but the chemical additives.

Part of the problem is that there is no standardized definition of what makes something ultra-processed or not, which means researchers have to make up or choose one of many criteria for their studies, this makes the conclusions apply only to these specific criterion and comparisons between studies become very difficult.

There was this fat guy who lived next door to me -- Barney was his name. Well, he went on a diet. Wow, boy, did he lose weight. It was really impressive. The only odd thing was that he was orange.

Then, bang! He died. Turned out his diet was mostly carrots. Unprocessed, natural foods can kill you, too.

I watch what I eat and take care of myself pretty well. Then, when I feel like it, I'll eat a Farmer's Breakfast once in a while. I'm still alive. Just use a little common sense. Licking your fingers after touching processed food is not going to kill you dead.

This is too vague to have much meaning. It also strikes me as another stick to beat people with. Yes, UPF include ridiculous strawberry-ice-cream-flavoured breakfast cereals and other joke snack foods, but they also contained essentially every loaf of bread in the supermarket, including supermarkets with the instore bakeries. Is someone at fault for buying the only bread available to them?

I usually eat convenience foods when I am busy with work, which also means other health issues like stress and doing less exercise than normal. A main reason I am busy with work is the rising cost of supporting my family. Eradicate those other things, and I will make better choices. It strikes me as ridiculous to blame a generation with few homemakers for eating less well or doing less cooking than a previous generation with homemakers.

Many consumers don’t have the time or money to cook most meals from scratch.

Or can't cook at all (a big proportion) or are too lazy or just can't be bothered because they don't know that the crap they buy for themselves or their kids from a convenience store or supermarket is highly processed and it looks like a viable alternative to actually making their own.

“Do we want to risk our kids getting sicker while we wait for this perfect evidence to emerge?” Prasad said.

Exactly, I am sure many reasonable people concerned with the future of their children would agree but they might be in the minority. We have seen that in the wrong hands, without perfect evidence, those motivated to oppose remedial measures will drag out actually doing something. Perhaps they will say there is a huge budget for the scientific lobby that advocates action or say that the scientists are bought or want to implement unnecessary regulation with autocracy as desired outcome. Especially those who don't want to change their diet of Twinkies and Coco Pops.

Moonraker

People have time to cook, they are fibbers and being lazybones. All our meals at home are made from scratch, decent meal for three can be done in 30 minutes including prep. Of course things like stews and roast dinners take longer but people don’t eat that daily.

We try to avoid super-processed foods those that contain more than five chemicals especially if they use a chemical name.

Most of our food is made from fresh ingredients. But we use miso, soy, and some sauces.

As tokyo-m said - how can you talk about ultra-processed foods without mentioning chemical additives in detail.

There's the large number of intended additives or agents incl sweeteners, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers, anti-mold agents etc which can include known dangerous chemicals like Aspartame, Nitrites, BHA?BHT etc etc.

Then of course there's the unintended presence of things like environmental contaminants - heavy metals (lead/cadmium....), benzene, dioxin, PFAS etc.

And the chemicals produced by processing like 3-MCPDE, acrylamide, furan etc

Consumers can make choices about what they want to consume and the relative risks of certain chemicals - BUT can only do so when the industry is open about and details the levels of such.

The discussion about chemical toxicity levels in food should be common and not fudged with company-speak.

It should be noted that the countries where the most UPFs are consumed, the US and the UK, are the ones where neoliberalism has been allowed to take over society. Where people shop at corporate supermarkets to buy corporate food. Where people are working ever longer hours to pay ever bigger interest-bearing loans for real estate to corporate financiers.

It is massive food corporations who are making Twinkies or chicken nuggets or whatever food item you want to demonize. It is not little independent farmers selling their stuff in a market or a little independent shop. It is other corporations making tv adverts that push such foods at your kids. UPF manufacturers can afford tv adverts because their products use cheap ingredients and are immensely profitable.

People with lower incomes and children are buying the super-processed foods because of price, convenience and the foods lasting longer.

People who live alone are less declined to cook and often eat out or buy ready made food. Some stores sell packets of vegetables rather than individual ones making it difficult for single people.

For those with small kitchens appliances like slow cooker, rice cookers and air fryer ovens can provide a full range of cooking.

People have time to cook, they are fibbers and being lazybones. All our meals at home are made from scratch, decent meal for three can be done in 30 minutes including prep. Of course things like stews and roast dinners take longer but people don’t eat that daily.

I disagree, not everyone has the time or can make time often or easily, that depends on the person, we don't know how other people live or what obligations they have to attend to, so in that case, some people have less options, some people don't have a proper kitchen or kitchen at all, then some people just don't like cooking, no matter what. My father was a great cook, but as he got older, he had zero interest in it and his wife hated cooking, so they only ate out, very seldom would they eat at home. So it just depends.

always read small letters with contents.

its like some report from chemical lab.

Then there is Cibophobia.

always read small letters with contents.

its like some report from chemical lab.

You mean pesticides that have demonstrated carcinogenic and mutagenic activity like glucosinolates, indoles, isothiocyanates, cyanides, phenols, etc?

https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2018/08/09/natural-pesticides-in-a-cabbage/

Having a list of scary chemicals do not make something ultra-processed.

Super-processed foods are more likely to be used in cheap restaurants.

Burning Bush

Can cook on a single hob, microwave and one of them toaster things, ain’t hard unless people are too damn lazy.

I lived in a Bedsit when young with 2 hobs a kettle a microwave and the foreign type of toaster, no sweat, made all my own grub.

Bone idleness turns into lethargy and obesity, the biggest killer in the West which is increased by eating tons of processed muck.

always read small letters with contents.

its like some report from chemical lab.

The list of ingredients is especially worrying in the US. Some manufacturers add synthetic dyes to the products meant for US consumers, but replace them with natural dyes in products meant for EU consumers, because the synthetic ones are banned there.

It's best to stick with single ingredient products and prepare the food yourself; it ain't that difficult.

You mean pesticides that have demonstrated carcinogenic and mutagenic activity like glucosinolates, indoles, isothiocyanates, cyanides, phenols, etc?

https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2018/08/09/natural-pesticides-in-a-cabbage/

Oh, are you saying we shouldn't eat cabbage and other vegetables?

Everyone should know how to cook and make the most of things.

I think you mean, if most people could or would cook. Not everyone is interested in cooking, my sister for one, can't stand it and tells guys when she dates them to NOT expect her to cook, so if they can handle that, fine, but if not, too bad.

People can cook decent meals while out camping, they don’t have a fully equipped kitchen there. It’s not rocket science to learn the basics and then improve as you go alone, cheaper and healthier than buying packet stuff especially those awful packs of noodles.

I cook, and I love to cook, but it just depends on the person, not everyone is into everyday food prepping, if I am in a hurry and have no time, I will buy a cup of noodles or whatever is available, not because I like or think it's great, but I don't have time, and I need to eat. Everything is within moderation. I will eat almost anything if I am put into the position, and that includes sour cream and onion chips, the main key is moderation.

bass4funk

Whether people like to cook or is neither here nor there, if you eat packet stuff Donat coy you’re heading for issues including obesity and an early death. We all have to do things we are not so keen on, some of the things I have to do for my work are tiresome, but they get done.

That’s concerning because ultraprocessed foods have been linked to a host of negative health effects, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, depression, dementia and more. One recent study suggested that eating these foods may raise the risk of early death.

They've found this to be true for the better part of three decades. The sharp increase in obesity around the world is directly related to the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup in the late 70s and the proliferation of ultra-processed foods. This has led to many premature deaths. Look at pictures from the pre-80 and post-80 and you'll see a big difference esp by the mid-90s.

Next time you go to the supermarket, you'll find most of the ultra-processed foods in the center and find whole foods on the sides and perimeter. Large food companies pay the most for the most prime shelf space in stores since they've have a lot of money from making a very cheap ultra-processed foods.

Whether people like to cook or is neither here nor there, if you eat packet stuff Donat coy you’re heading for issues including obesity and an early death.

That is not necessarily true; it depends on your body's metabolism, DNA, etc. I was a candy junkie as a kid, and I was never obese, I have a cousin who eats very healthy, and she is obese, it all depends on various factors, now I am not saying you are entirely wrong, but you can claim that if someone eats unhealthy, they are automatically condemned to becoming obese. by that logic, I should be looking like a Pac-man

We all have to do things we are not so keen on, some of the things I have to do for my work are tiresome, but they get done.

Ok, but that is you, and you can't say or think that others have the same flexible time as you do. My mother tried her best to teach my sister how to cook, and no matter what she did, my sister never learned that is just how some people, we all have our differences, and deciding what or which priority is easier and best suited.

quote: increased taxes on sugary drinks.

People will have less to spend on healthier foods after they have bought their bottles of pop. Increasing prices is a really bad way of trying to manipulate people. Scientists, academics and politicians live in a different world to ordinary people, which is why they are so lousy at this.

quote: stricter sodium restrictions for manufacturers.

People will just add salt at the table. The UK government progressively reduced salt in crisps. Even I added some to a pack recently - the only salt I have added to any food in decades. The only salt I have in the house is used when soaking my feet, so I used that.

quote: fruits and vegetables ... are really good for us.

Yes, but fruit allergies, fructose (fruit sugar) and the acidic nature of some fruits are real issues.

Most people could do with reducing their intake of salt, sugar, fat and alcohol. Most should also eat more veggies and drink more water to be properly hydrated. But if you are on a good diet, a treat won't kill you.

Educate people, don't ban their food or try to manipulate them. Doesn't the US education systems have domestic science lessons?

The UK government clearing GM food to be sold without labelling was something of a watershed moment for me. I no longer trust producers or the government on any issue relating to food.

Educate people, don't ban their food or try to manipulate them. Doesn't the US education systems have domestic science lessons?

Used to, but now they are more focused on teaching gender and woke classes, so as far as this generation is concerned, the kids don't know as much about health and science.

The UK government clearing GM food to be sold without labeling was something of a watershed moment for me. I no longer trust producers or the government on any issue relating to food.

I agree.

The list of ingredients is especially worrying in the US.

Specially for people with chemophobia and believers on the false premise that natural means healthy and artificial means unhealthy.

Oh, are you saying we shouldn't eat cabbage and other vegetables?

The point is written just below the text you quote, I have no problem writing it again.

Having a list of scary chemicals do not make something ultra-processed.

Having a list of scary chemicals do not make something ultra-processed.

Yes, I know that, I was pointing out that many products are unnecessarily loaded with toxic chemicals. Some US manufacturers use fruit extracts to add color to their products for EU consumption, but the same product for US consumption will instead have toxic petroleum derived dyes. In other words, they could make them less unhealthy but they choose not to.

Yes, I know that, I was pointing out that many products are unnecessarily loaded with toxic chemicals.

By saying that sharing a list of the toxic chemicals included in natural products should be a reason to avoid them? That would make the opposite point.

For people with irrational fear of anything chemical or that believe the fallacy that anything natural is safer or better than artificial such lists demonstrate the invalidity of the point. Chemical is not the same as unnatural nor automatically means higher risks.

I would go with donuts, which undergo the simple process of being fried.

Yes, I know that, I was pointing out that many products are unnecessarily loaded with toxic chemicals.

By saying that sharing a list of the toxic chemicals included in natural products should be a reason to avoid them? That would make the opposite point.

Since you're clearly not getting the simple point I'm making, I'll make it even simpler.

Let's say there is a brand of cookies sold in the UK that has raspberry extract added as a coloring agent. And in the US we can get the exact same brand of cookies except that instead of the raspberry extract, they use Red Dye #3, a confirmed carcinogen.

Having a preference for the UK version over the US version is not an "irrational fear of anything chemical", it's common sense.

Since you're clearly not getting the simple point I'm making, I'll make it even simpler.

Your original comment was very simple, you said that listing the many dangerous chemicals present in a natural product somehow means I am supposedly saying people should not eat it.

That is precisely having an irrational fear of chemicals.