A leading nutritional scientist is advocating for ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to bear warnings akin to those found on tobacco products, citing their pervasive influence on global diets and associated health risks.
Professor Carlos Monteiro from the University of São Paulo, who coined the term UPF, warns that these heavily processed foods are increasingly dominating diets worldwide, displacing healthier options and contributing to a decline in overall diet quality. Speaking ahead of the International Congress on Obesity in São Paulo, Monteiro emphasized the urgent need to address the growing consumption of UPFs, which he links directly to rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
“Their consumption is driving the pandemic of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases,” Monteiro cautioned, noting the alarming trend where UPFs like cereals, protein bars, and fast food constitute a significant portion of daily food intake, particularly in the UK and US.
Recent comprehensive reviews have underscored the detrimental health impacts of UPFs, linking them to a range of conditions including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and adverse mental health outcomes. Monteiro’s “Nova” food classification system, which categorizes foods based on their degree of processing, underscores the distinction between minimally processed foods and ultra-processed ones.
Monteiro proposes robust public health measures akin to those implemented against tobacco, advocating for restrictions on UPF advertisements, front-of-pack warnings, and taxation to discourage consumption. Drawing parallels between UPFs and tobacco, Monteiro highlights the role of multinational corporations in aggressively marketing products that are often cheaper and more convenient than fresh alternatives.
However, Dr. Hilda Mulrooney from London Metropolitan University cautions against oversimplifying the comparison between UPFs and tobacco, emphasizing the multifaceted role of nutrients in food production and the complexities of reformulating processed foods. She argues that while tobacco products can be universally banned due to their unequivocal health risks, addressing the health impacts of UPFs requires a nuanced approach that considers nutritional needs alongside health concerns.
As debates continue over the regulation and consumption of ultra-processed foods, Monteiro’s call for stringent measures underscores a growing consensus among health experts regarding the need to address the global dietary shift towards these heavily processed products. His remarks at the upcoming conference are expected to fuel further discussions on effective strategies to mitigate the health risks associated with UPFs while promoting healthier dietary choices worldwide.
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