Ultra-processed foods are fueling chronic diseases, says a new report from The Lancet. The report warns that a unified global response is needed to confront the 'corporate power' behind the rise of these foods. Countries must band together to address the issue, according to the report's authors.
The Lancet is a renowned peer-reviewed medical journal, and its new three-paper series highlights the negative impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on human health. UPFs are displacing fresh and minimally processed foods, leading to a decline in diet quality and an increased risk of chronic diseases.
The series emphasizes that improving diets cannot solely rely on consumer behavior change. Instead, it calls for coordinated global policies to reduce UPF production, marketing, and consumption, while also improving access to healthy food. An Irish professor suggests applying these warnings to the hot school meals program to ensure schoolchildren's well-being.
The report concludes that UPFs are the result of a food economy driven by corporate profit, not nutrition or sustainability. Political lobbying is identified as the largest barrier to implementing effective policies to tackle UPFs. The series is authored by 43 global experts who warn that the rise in UPFs is supported by extensive marketing and political lobbying, hindering public health policies.
UPFs are made from inexpensive industrial ingredients and are designed to replace fresh and traditional meals. Examples include soft drinks, hot dogs, snacks, and ready-to-heat pizzas. Some UPFs, like yogurts and breakfast cereals, are considered less harmful.
Evidence reviewed in the Lancet series links high UPF consumption to overeating, poor nutritional quality, and exposure to harmful chemicals and additives. Chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression are associated with UPFs.
The authors acknowledge the need for further research but emphasize the urgency of taking immediate public health action based on the current evidence. A second paper in the series outlines policies to regulate and reduce UPF production, marketing, and consumption, including front-of-package labeling and limits on UPF sales and shelf space.
The Lancet series also calls for stronger marketing restrictions, especially on child-directed advertisements. Dr. Norah Campbell welcomes such policies and suggests that Ireland hasn't done enough in terms of advertising regulations. The series also proposes banning UPFs in public institutions like schools and hospitals, citing Brazil's successful national school feeding program as an example.
The report highlights the aggressive marketing and political influence of UPF corporations, which use sophisticated tactics to protect profits, similar to the tobacco industry. The authors call for a coordinated global public health response to protect policymaking from industry interference and to end industry ties with health professionals and organizations.
Ireland, according to Campbell, could take a leading role in addressing UPFs, just as it did with tobacco by being the first country to ban smoking indoors in public spaces. The school meals program and similar initiatives can be leveraged to promote healthy food choices for children.
