Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) refer to those that have undergone substantial industrial processing and contain multiple additives not commonly used in home cooking. In recent months, the perils of UPFs have received widespread coverage. Dr Chris Van Tulleken, a virologist, has put forward a striking claim suggesting a correlation between diets high in UPFs and a variety of ailments, including obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancer. He even asserts that UPFs are linked to more deaths than tobacco, positioning them as the number one cause of early deaths globally. This statement quickly garnered broad attention and sparked extensive public discussion. However, the scientific community has yet to reach a consensus on the real impact of UPFs on health.
To delve deeper into the scientific basis for the health effects of UPFs, we reached out to Professor Bernard Corfe, an expert in the field of nutrition and Professor of Human Nutrition and Health at Newcastle University. In the following interview, Professor Corfe discusses with Food-WellNews some of the key issues in current research on the health risks associated with UPFs.
Simon, who entered the workforce a year ago, shared his personal experience with Food-WellNews:
In this context, Professor Corfe highlighted a significant issue: “Many ultra-processed foods contain high levels of fats, salt, and sugar, which are known to pose health risks.” However, Professor Corfe added that these risks are not directly due to the ultra-processing methods themselves, indicating that not all UPFs are inherently harmful.
He emphasized, “We should not solely attribute health risks to ultra-processed foods themselves. Rather, policy-making should focus more straightforwardly on the content of sugar, fats, and salt in foods, which would help in reducing these components to improve public health.”
As the discussion on ultra-processed foods deepens, the varied perspectives of different experts underscore the complexity of nutrition science and public health policy. For us as consumers, while a range of options exist, it is wise to limit our intake of UPFs and focus more on the foods recommended by The Eatwell Guide for better health.
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Turns out I had a misconception about ultra-processed foods.