Not all ultra-processed foods are created equal. Here are the 4 UPFs linked with early death in a study.
Business InsiderMay 11
Scientist Says 'Ultra-Processed Foods' Need Tobacco-Style Warning Labels
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The Facts
Brazilian scientist Carlos Monteiro, who coined the term "Ultra-Processed Foods" (UPFs) 15 years ago, says that the risk they pose to public health is great enough to warrant a campaign "like those against tobacco."
Ahead of his address at this week's International Congress on Obesity, Monteiro said UPFs and tobacco account for "numerous serious illnesses," and that both are made by marketing-driven industries selling something addictive and "pathogenic (dangerous) by design."
The Spin
Narrative A
This hyperbolic statement about UPFs is reductive, inaccurate, and does more harm than good. There is little evidence that UPFs are uniquely evil, as many nutritious shelf-stable foods are classified as ultra-processed. The public can also only absorb so much negative messaging at once, and will eventually tune out of public health warnings. The research maintains that a balanced diet is the most important part of nutrition.
Narrative B
The massive food conglomerates that push UPFs on the public are invested in sowing doubt about the harm their products cause. There's a growing mountain of evidence that shows the clear link between UPFs and negative health outcomes. The fight against UPFs is complicated by the extensive lobbying and financial power of the food industry, which is fighting tooth and nail to obfuscate its role in a public health crisis.