Why taking on ultra-processed foods is like the battle against Big Tobacco

The fight against potentially harmful industrially manufactured foods is hard because the food industry has been playing its cards cleverly.

- Teo Yik Ying

We consume them without a thought, but ultra-processed foods are like cigarettes for this generation. They harm our health but are so smartly designed and marketed that we often ignore the dangers.

These industrially manufactured products, laden with ingredients and additives not commonly used in home cooking, have become ubiquitous in supermarkets, convenience stores, and fast-food outlets worldwide.

The ingredient lists of such foods often include words such as "emulsifiers", "preservatives", "artificial flavourings", or "high fructose corn syrup", which are ingredients you will never find in fresh, natural foods. The primary purpose of these additives is to improve the shelf life, taste, texture, and appearance of the food.

The rise of these products marks a new frontier in our ongoing battle over food and nutrition, posing a significant threat to public health and echoing the tactics once employed by the tobacco industry.

The alarm over ultra-processed foods was first raised back in the mid-1990s by a Brazilian expert on public health nutrition, Professor Carlos Monteiro, who observed the rising rates of obesity among children.

By studying the food buying patterns of Brazilian households, Prof Monteiro and his team observed that families were making more purchases of instant noodles, sausages, packaged breads, and cookies, instead of basic ingredients such as beans, rice, and fresh meats.

They were the first to coin the term "ultra-processed foods" and to establish a strong linkage between such products and negative health outcomes.

It was clear that the dietary shift towards these conveniencefoods was contributing to a rise in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in Brazil.

APPEAL OF SUCH FOODS

Ultra-processed foods are designed for convenience, shelf stability, and mass consumption, making them highly appealing to our fast-paced modern lifestyles.