Ultra Processed Food Flashcards
UK UPF Facts
The UK has the highest consumption of UPFs in the diet in Europe and diet quality does not meet the standards recommended in the food based dietary guidelines.
UPF is not explicitly included in the current UK dietary guidelines, however the EatWell plate states that minimally processed foods should make up a large part of the diet.
Potential confusion for consumers as the NOVA 4 definition includes healthier foods.
Potential confusion for food manufacturers to determine exact processes and ingredients in scope.
Unknown impact on trade agreements
Defining Ultra Processed
It is not clear from the list in Table 2 the exact type of processes which fall into this category. For example, is both hot and cold extrusion included? How is the term ‘moulding’ applied? Are activities such as blanching included in the category of pre-processing for frying or is it specifically the application of additives or other preparation techniques?
Food Compass Scoring (FCS) nutrient profile system
This highlights that UPFs inherently have different nutritional properties and although only a small percentage are nutrient dense and should be encouraged, grouping them together can obscure these differences.
Increased palatability with higher level of processing
RCT feeding trial showed that differences in texture accounted for increased eating rate with a 21% increase in consumption and 26% increased energy consumed for both ultra-processed and minimally processed meals (14)
low SES
UPFs are perceived to be cheaper, more convenient and more accessible. Moves to reduce the prevalence of them in people’s diets risks increasing food insecurity in vulnerable populations. Pricing mechanisms to reduce consumption of foods that contribute to low diet quality, could have other consequences for families of low Social Economic Status (SES) who have reduced access to other forms of ‘treats’ so sweeter foods replace other treats such as holidays that seem out of reach (23). The same demographic may also live in food deserts, areas where there is limited access to the types of food that contribute to a healthy diet and therefore barriers to consuming UPFs could affect them disproportionately.
Globalised Diet and Brands
An increasingly prominent ‘globalised diet’, characterised by an abundance of branded ultra-processed food products made and distributed on an industrial scale, comes at the expense of the cultivation, manufacture and consumption of traditional foods, cuisines and diets, comprising mostly fresh and minimally processed foods.
UPF Ingredient Sourcing
Ultra-processed foods are typically manufactured using ingredients extracted from a handful of high-yielding plant species, including maize, wheat, soy and oil seed crops. Animal-sourced ingredients used in many ultra-processed foods are often derived from confined animals fed on the same crops.
