United States: UPFs are displacing healthier foods “everywhere in the world” even when investigation still identifies their risks and must display tobacco-like alerts, added the scholar who popularized the term.
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Researcher Prof Carlos Monteiro of the University of São Paulo will present evidence showing the growing risk that UPFs pose to children and adults at the congress running this week, which is branded as the International Congress on Obesity.
Monteiro said at the conference in São Paulo, “UPFs are increasing their share in and domination of global diets, despite the risk they represent to health in terms of increasing the risk of multiple chronic diseases,” as the Guardian reported.
“UPFs are displacing healthier, less processed foods all over the world, and also causing a deterioration in diet quality due to their several harmful attributes. Together, these foods are driving the pandemic of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes,” Monteiro continued.
Warnings against UPFs
The stark warning comes at a time when international per capita consumption of UPFs is soaring. This includes cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals, fast foods, and many other foods.
Over 50 percent of the average UK and US diets are comprised of ultra-processed goods. For others, this may include young clients, those with lower incomes, or those coming from deprived regions. A diet with up to 80 percent UPF is common.
A global review in February confirmed UPFs were causally associated with 32 adverse health impacts, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, type two diabetes, poor mental health, and premature mortality.
Introduction of ‘UPF’ term
Monteiro and his colleagues introduced the term UPF 15 years ago when developing the food classification system called “Nova.”
This applies not only to the nutritional dimension but also to the conditions that food passes through before being consumed.
The system divides food and drink into four groups and distinguishes four levels of food processing: minimally processed food, processed culinary ingredients, processed food, and ultra-processed food.
Thus, Monteiro said in the interview with the Guardian that he was more worried about the health effect UPF had on human beings and that not only studies and reviews were required to let the public know of the health risk impacts, as the Guardian reported.
What more do the experts have to state?
Monteiro said, “Public health campaigns are needed like those against tobacco to curb the dangers of UPFs,” and, “Such campaigns would include the health dangers of consumption of UPFs.”
“Advertisements for UPFs should also be banned or heavily restricted, and front-of-pack warnings should be introduced similar to those used for cigarette packs,” he added.
He would further explain to delegates that “Sales of UPFs in schools and health facilities should be banned, and there should be heavy taxation of UPFs, with the revenue generated used to subsidize fresh foods.”