Semantron 25 Summer 2025

Ultra-processed food

Conclusion

The lack of specific knowledge on why ultra-processed foods are harmful and the many underlying socioeconomic factors that determine their consumption has meant it is very difficult for legislators to act upon the issue. The scale of response required is simply not feasible for many governments, and action by the individual is unaffordable for those most affected. So, without further research into why UPFs are harmful, and government action to tightly control and change the food landscape, the harms caused by UPFs will only increase. In the fight against ultra-processed food, I believe it is in the best interest of communities and individuals to start their own grassroots movements to better their own food situation, especially by boycotting UPFs and preparing their own meals ‘from scratch’.

References

Chavez-Ugalde, I., et al. (2024) ‘Ultra -processed food consumption in UK adolescents: distribution, trends, and sociodemographic correlates using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19’, European Journal of Nutrition , doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03458-z da Rocha, K. et al. (2021) ‘Commercial foods for infants under the age of 36 months: an assessment of the availability and nutrient profile of ultra- processed foods’, Public Health Nutrition , vol 24(11), doi:10.1017/S1368980021001555. Department of Health and Social Care Media Team (2024) ‘ Government plans to tackle obesity in England ’. Available at: https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/07/government-plans-to-tackle-obesity- in-england/ [Accessed 25/08/2024] Dicken, S. et al. (2023) ‘Who consumes ultra -processed food? A systematic review of sociodemographic determinants of ultra-processed food consumption from nationally representative samples’, Nutrition Research Reviews , doi: 10.1017/S0954422423000240 Du, S. et al. (2021) ‘Higher ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increased risk of incident coronary artery disease in the atherosclerosis risk in communities study’ , Journal of Nutrition 151.12, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab285 Fhang, Z. et al. (2024) ‘Association of ultra -processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study’, BMJ , vol 385 (8428), doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj- 2023-078476. Fiolet, T. et al. (2018) ‘Consumption of ultra -processed foods and cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort’, BMJ 360 (8141), doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k322. Lutter, C. (2017) Complementary feeding . Available at: https://www.who.int/tools/elena/bbc/complementary- feeding#:~:text=Complementary%20feeding%20occurs%20when%20children,and%20continue d%20breastfeeding%20(3) [Accessed: 25/08/2024] Livingston, A. et al. (2021) ‘Effect of reducing ultra -processed food consumption on obesity among US children and adolescents aged 7 –18 years: evidence from a simulation model’, BMJ Nutrition 4. 2, doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000303. Monteiro, C. et al. (2010) ‘A new classification of foods based on the extent and purpose of their processing’, Cadernos de Saúde Pública 26.11, doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102- 311X2010001100005. Monteiro, C., et al. (2013) ‘U ltra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system ’, Obesity Reviews 14.21, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12107.

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