Public health experts believe that solutions are still possible if governments and communities take serious action.
These conclusions come from three research papers published in The Lancet, which addressed the spread of these foods and their health risks, proposed policies to deal with them, and revealed the crucial role of corporate influence in deepening the problem.
The first research paper shows that consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased over decades in most countries of the world, to the point that it now accounts for almost half of daily energy in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Not only are they widespread, but diets rich in these products promote overeating and are nutritionally poor; they contain higher amounts of sugars, saturated fats, and energy density, compared to lower levels of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
A meta-analysis of 104 long-term studies also concluded that 92 studies reported clear associations between the consumption of these foods and obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, depression, Crohn's disease, as well as an increased risk of premature death.
It turns out that the problem is not just about salt, sugar and fat, as clinical trials confirm that following a diet rich in ultra-processed foods leads to consuming an additional 500–800 calories per day, weight and fat gain, and an accelerated pace of eating compared to non-ultra-processed diets.
The second paper discusses policy options that governments can implement, most notably:
Focusing solely on "reformulation" is not enough; replacing sugar with sweeteners or fats with artificial additives does not address the underlying problem.
The paper proposes imposing restrictions on selected additives and adopting "labels for ultra-processed foods" to facilitate their regulation.
The proposed measures include:
Place mandatory warning labels on the front of the packages.
Protecting children under 18 from digital advertising for these products.
Taxes of at least 20% on sugary drinks and certain ultra-processed foods, and direct the revenues to support fresh foods.
Remove these foods from schools and hospitals, and reduce their presence in stores and near educational areas.
By regulating trading portfolios, promoting competition, and studying tax reforms that reduce excessive market concentration.
This includes redirecting agricultural support from components of monoculture farming (such as corn, soybeans, and sugar) to the production of healthy and sustainable food, and harmonizing environmental and food policies.
The third research paper reveals that the dominance of ultra-processed foods is not merely a result of individual choices, but rather the product of a highly profitable business model held by transnational corporations. These companies possess extensive marketing and political lobbying networks, influence public discourse and the direction of scientific research, and use their profits to expand their markets globally.
In 2024, major corporations' advertising spending exceeded the entire operating budget of the World Health Organization.
Experts warn that these companies are pursuing strategies similar to those used by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, with the aim of delaying any effective regulation.
It calls for a global response that includes:
Imposing taxes on the production of ultra-processed foods.
Requiring companies to recycle plastic.
Protecting policies and research from conflicts of interest.
Stop relying on industry “self-regulation”, and establish alliances that support policymakers in making effective decisions.
