(London, Reuters) Researchers warn that the growing global consumption of ultra-processed foods poses a significant health threat, and that countries should impose marketing restrictions and taxes on certain products produced by large food companies to address this major public health threat.
Forty-three leading researchers in the field of ultra-processed foods published three articles in The Lancet on Wednesday (November 19) advocating that governments include these foods in their national policies regulating high-fat, high-sugar, or high-salt foods.
The researchers reviewed 104 previous studies. The first paper pointed out that high consumption of these foods is associated with an increased risk of various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and premature death.
The second paper noted that global consumption of ultra-processed foods is constantly increasing, and in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, they now account for more than half of total calorie intake.
The third paper attributes the changes in global dietary patterns over the past few decades to a few large corporations, arguing that they use aggressive marketing tactics to sell products made with cheap ingredients and industrialized production methods. The paper states that in 2021, the eight largest manufacturers—Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Danone, Mexican Economy Foods Corporation, Mondelez International, and Kraft Heinz—accounted for 42% of the industry's $1.5 trillion (approximately S$1.95 trillion) in assets.
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The authors of the paper acknowledge that most of these studies aim to reveal correlations rather than direct causal relationships, and more evidence is needed, particularly regarding the causes and mechanisms by which ultra-processed foods cause health problems. The international research team also countered critics, saying their attempts to "create scientific doubt" are identical to tactics commonly used by the tobacco industry.
