Be prepared to be outraged, says Catherine Morgan, ION’s Communications Officer and trained nutritional therapist, as she delves into the perilous and dark side of ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed food (UPF) has become a hot topic of conversation, and for good reason. It’s everywhere – and many of us are getting our fill (both knowingly and not) without fully understanding the potential health implications. With these products often cheap, aggressively marketed, and widely available in our food environment, it’s hard to see how we can shake the tight grip of UPF and reset our food culture. But we do have to try – for our own health and that of future generations.
Thankfully Chris van Tulleken, doctor, academic, award-winning BBC broadcaster and dad-of-three, has been leading the charge in raising the alarm – and public awareness – on UPF, its effect on our bodies, and the powerful industry behind it. His book Ultra-Processed People is a must-read for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the problems of UPF and possible solutions – but be prepared to be outraged. There are some eye-opening revelations about conflicts of interest and deceptive marketing strategies used to promote the products, which may or may not come as a surprise but on the plus side should serve to strengthen one’s resolve to make some changes.
A key message in the book is that the obesity epidemic is not caused by a lack of exercise or willpower, or even by sugar, but rather by ultra-processed foods that ‘hack our brains’ and compel us to eat more – even if we know they’re likely to cause harm. Notably, there is no judgement on the reader’s food choices, and blame is directed towards the food industry, not the consumer. From the start, van Tulleken points out that he has no opinion on what we should eat but does feel strongly that to make choices we need accurate information about the possible risks of food, and that we should be less exposed to aggressive, often misleading marketing.
Ultra-Processed People certainly isn’t a light read, but it’s still largely accessible to those without a scientific background. The heavier academic references and expert opinions are balanced by van Tulleken’s personal stories and UPF journey which make it an enjoyable read, and we discover what happened when he ate an 80% UPF diet for a month (spoiler alert: it wasn’t good!).
For me, there were numerous takeaways – a few of which are listed below. And it also did what I assumed was intended: it made me assess my own UPF habits. More significantly, it made me want to rebel against an industry that van Tulleken argues is driven largely by profit, not health – and funnily enough, it was this message of rebellion that got my children on board with a UPF crackdown in our home (although I can’t guarantee it will last). Bring on the food revolution!
Takeaways
| UPF makes up as much as 60% of the average diet in the UK and USA. |
| There’s a formal scientific definition of UPF, but according to van Tulleken, if you’re reading an ingredient’s list or if you don’t recognise an ingredient, it’s probably UPF (although there are some exceptions). |
| It’s the ultra-processing of foods, not their nutritional content (or lack thereof), that’s the problem. |
| Most UPF isn’t really food – it’s an industrially processed food substance. |
| Emulsifiers can have a detrimental impact on our gut microbiome. |
| Some manufacturers make products that damage the microbiome and then sell the solutions, e.g. enzymes, probiotics and tests. |
| The marketing strategies for promoting UPF can be very aggressive. |
| Policies are often influenced by charities, NGOs and professional groups that are funded by food companies. |
| The solution will likely have to come in part from the government, but also through education. So, if you’ve read your copy of Ultra-Processed People, don’t let it gather dust – pass it on! |
