Rising Problem of Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods are increasingly taking the place of traditional meals around the world, negatively affecting diet quality and contributing to a surge in diet-related chronic diseases.
Even though the advertising budgets of leading ultra-processed food companies are significantly larger than that of the World Health Organization, there’s still a lot that governments, communities, and health experts can do to tackle this issue.
The findings, released today in the journal The Lancet, comprise three significant papers discussing ultra-processed foods.
These products—which typically contain few, if any, whole ingredients—are created from industrial components and cosmetic additives. Common examples are soft drinks, chips, and many popular breakfast cereals.
We believe the issue stems not from individual willpower, but mainly from a commercially driven environment propelled by a powerful industry.
The Evidence
The first paper summarizes evidence showing that ultra-processed foods are becoming more prevalent worldwide, with their share in diets increasing across various countries over recent decades.
In the United States, the UK, and Canada, ultra-processed foods have accounted for about 50% of daily caloric intake for years. Australia reflects a similar trend as well.
Additionally, diets rich in ultra-processed foods are linked to overeating and are generally nutritionally deficient, containing excessive sugars, saturated fats, and calories while lacking fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.
The second paper reveals health risks related to these foods. A comprehensive review, including 104 long-term studies, found that 92 of them indicated increased risks for one or more chronic diseases.
Meta-analyses from these studies confirmed associations with obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, and even depression and premature death.
It’s not merely a case of “too much sugar, salt, and fat.” Clinical trials suggest that adults on high ultra-processed diets consume an additional 500–800 calories daily, leading to weight and fat gain. They also tend to eat more quickly compared to those on a non-ultra-processed diet with similar macronutrient proportions.
This is likely due to the appealing taste and textures of ultra-processed foods that make overeating quite easy.
While more research is necessary, the current evidence warrants a global public health response.
Policy Options
The second paper outlines potential policy measures that governments could adopt to combat this issue. Four notable strategies include:
- Changing products: Reformulating ingredients may not be sufficient. Governments should establish limits on certain additives and mark ultra-processed products based on attributes like sugar and fat levels for regulation.
- Improving food environments through evidence-based policies, such as:
- Implementing mandatory front-of-pack labeling that effectively informs consumers and reduces purchases.
- Protecting minors from ultra-processed food marketing, especially online, and extending protections beyond standard “kids’ hours.”
- Introducing taxes on sugary drinks and selected ultra-processed foods, using revenue to subsidize healthier options for low-income families.
- Prohibiting ultra-processed foods in schools and hospitals and regulating their availability near educational institutions.
- Regulating corporate power: Governments can enhance oversight of food companies and limit the proportion of sales from ultra-processed foods. There’s a need to strengthen competition policy and consider tax reforms that tackle excessive market control.
- Revising subsidies and supply chains: Agricultural subsidies could be redirected from monoculture crops used in ultra-processed foods toward supporting healthier agricultural practices aligned with nutrition goals.
Effective solutions will require tailored, coordinated efforts—there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Challenging the Ultra-Processed Food Industry
The third paper examines why ultra-processed foods are dominating diets and how we can mobilize a global health response.
The underlying issue seems to be the lucrative nature of ultra-processing, with this business model being the most profitable in the food sector.
The largest multinational companies lead global supply, marketing, and lobbying efforts that expand their markets, influence scientific discourse, and obstruct regulatory actions.
Ultra-processed food firms utilize profits to significantly enhance marketing, increase production facilities, and support lobbying endeavors.
For example, in 2024, major food companies allocated far more funds for advertising than the total operational budget of the World Health Organization.
Corporations often mimic the strategies of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries—through lobbying, litigation, self-regulation, and sponsored research to delay necessary policies.
Our paper advocates for a coordinated global public health response:
- Dismantle the ultra-processed food business model by implementing production taxes, mandating corporate recycling of plastics, and reallocating resources to support healthier food producers and families.
- Ensure that policymaking and science remain free from industry influence, establishing clear conflict-of-interest regulations and moving away from reliance on self-regulation.
- Build coalitions to effectively advocate for policy changes, offering both legal support and strategic communication.
These papers illustrate that unless there’s decisive policy action and global coordination, the prevalence of ultra-processed foods will continue to grow, adversely impacting health, economies, culture, and the environment. Action is required—now.
