Ultra-processed foods should be central to global food systems dialogue and action on biodiversity

Leite, Fernanda Helena Marrocos; Andrade, Giovanna; Anastasiou, Kim; Baker, Phillip; Lawrence, Mark; Monteiro, Carlos Augusto

doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008269

Cited by 41 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Despite these serious health concerns, the consumption of ultraprocessed food is not declining ( 90 ). Production and sales continue to increase globally ( 91 ) and are likely to continue if food commodities (such as corn, wheat, soy, and sugar) are subsidized by various governments to make ultraprocessed food cheap and readily available. Therefore, it is imperative to ameliorate the metabolic perturbations that negatively impact physical and mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Metabolic Matrix: Re-engineering ultraprocessed foods to feed the gut, protect the liver, and support the brain

Harlan

Gow

Kornstädt³

et al. 2023

Front. Nutr.

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Ultraprocessed food is established as a metabolic disruptor acting to increase adiposity, reduce mitochondrial efficiency, drive insulin resistance, alter growth, and contribute to human morbidity and mortality. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are beginning to understand the detrimental impact of the food they market, and have employed substitution strategies to reduce salt, sugar, and fat. However, the harms of ultraprocessed foods are far more complex than any single component, and are not ameliorated by such simple substitutions. Over the past 2 years, the authors have worked with the Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company (KDD) to conduct a comprehensive scientific evaluation of their entire commercial food and beverage portfolio. Assay of the macronutrients, micronutrients, additives, and toxins contained in each of their products was undertaken to determine the precise nature of each product’s ingredients as well as the health impacts of processing. The authors formed a Scientific Advisory Team (SAT) and developed a tiered “Metabolic Matrix” founded in three science-based principles: (1) protect the liver, (2) feed the gut, and (3) support the brain. The Metabolic Matrix categorizes each product and provides the criteria, metrics, and recommendations for improvement or reformulation. Real-time consultation with the KDD Executive and Operations teams was vital to see these procedures through to fruition. This scientific exercise has enabled KDD to lay the groundwork for improving the health, well-being, and sustainability of their entire product line, while maintaining flavor, economic, and fiscal viability. This process is easily transferrable, and we are sharing this effort and its approaches as a proof-of-concept. The key aim of our work is to not only make ultraprocessed food healthier but to urge other food companies to implement similar analysis and reformulation of their product lines to improve the metabolic health and well-being of consumers worldwide.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Metabolic Matrix: Re-engineering ultraprocessed foods to feed the gut, protect the liver, and support the brain

Harlan

Gow

Kornstädt³

et al. 2023

Front. Nutr.

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“…These include socioeconomic limitations, self‐consciousness related to physical activity, and lack of safe spaces to be physically active 47–49 . The current global food environment also runs contrary to health promotion efforts, as food deserts prevail in vulnerable neighborhoods and regions 50,51 and ultra‐processed foods become an increasingly prominent part of diets globally 52,53 …”

Section: Food and Physical Activity Narrativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[47][48][49] The current global food environment also runs contrary to health promotion efforts, as food deserts prevail in vulnerable neighborhoods and regions 50,51 and ultra-processed foods become an increasingly prominent part of diets globally. 52,53 In addition, nutrition and exercise-focused interventions have demonstrated a lack of effectiveness for long-term sustainable obesity treatment. 54 Health-related benefits can be gained from health behavior changes with little change in body weight, 55,56 yet health messages primarily focus on weight loss and Western thin ideals, as well as diet and fitness cultures that stigmatize people with higher body weights.…”

Section: Food and Physical Activity Narrativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the global obesity narrative to recognize and reduce weight stigma: A position statement from the World Obesity Federation

Nutter,

Eggerichs,

Nagpal

et al. 2023

Obesity Reviews

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SummaryWeight stigma, defined as pervasive misconceptions and stereotypes associated with higher body weight, is both a social determinant of health and a human rights issue. It is imperative to consider how weight stigma may be impeding health promotion efforts on a global scale. The World Obesity Federation (WOF) convened a global working group of practitioners, researchers, policymakers, youth advocates, and individuals with lived experience of obesity to consider the ways that global obesity narratives may contribute to weight stigma. Specifically, the working group focused on how overall obesity narratives, food and physical activity narratives, and scientific and public‐facing language may contribute to weight stigma. The impact of weight stigma across the lifespan was also considered. Taking a global perspective, nine recommendations resulted from this work for global health research and health promotion efforts that can help to reduce harmful obesity narratives, both inside and outside health contexts.

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“…In addition to potential human health benefits (4,7–13), the reduction of high UPF consumption, associated with a greater overall consumption, could be a driver in the transition towards a more sustainable food system by contributing to the reduction of GHGe, energy demand, land use, soil and water degradation, and pollution. In addition, it has been documented that production of UPF is also associated with the use of fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation and biodiversity loss as well as packaging (2,19,43,44). With respect to our findings as regards water use, the benefit is less convincing since, as previously emphasized (37), healthy diets rich in fruits, vegetables and nuts are water consuming.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts associated with UPF consumption: which food chain stages matter the most?Findings from a representative sample of French adults

Kesse‐Guyot

Allès

Brunin

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundScientific literature about environmental pressures associated with dietary patterns has been considerably growing over the last decade. However, few studies have analyzed the environmental impacts associated with the consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) and which steps of the food system that contribute most to environmental pressures. The objective of this study was to investigate, in a representative sample of the adult French population, the environmental pressures of diets according to UPF consumption.MethodsThe study was conducted in 2,121 adults of the French nationally representative survey INCA 3. Food intakes were analyzed to define the %UPF (in weight) in the diet according to NOVA classification. Using detailed environmental data of foods of Agribalyse, we could assess the contribution of UPF to 14 indicators of environmental pressure and details those related to the stage of the food consumed: production, processing, storage, packaging, transport and retailing at the food level. The data was described according to quintiles of % of UPF in the diet and analyzed using crude and energy-adjusted models.ResultsCompared to low consumers of UPF (Q1, median UPF= 7%), high consumers (Q5, median UPF= 35%) had a higher energy intake (+22%) which came along with different environmental pressures (e.g. +15% greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe), +17% land use, -7% water use and +8% cumulative energy demand). Higher pressures could be ascribed to higher energy. However, the processing and packaging stages were significant contributor to energy demand. In Q5, contributions of the UPF category to total pressure were 35%, 39%, 28% and 42% for GHGe, water use land use, and energy demand, respectively, while ranging from 11 to 15% in Q1.ConclusionsDiets rich in UPF, compared to low, were overall associated with intensification in GHGe, land use, and energy demand and with higher contribution of post-farm stages, in particular processing regarding energy demand.HighlightsOverall, higher UPF consumption was associated with higher environmental impact, in particular GHGE and land useLow UPF consumers had overall higher water footprint (due to their high fruit and vegetable intake)A large part of the higher pressures observed among participants with higher UPF consumption was explained by their higher dietary energy intake since the associations did not remain or were even reversed after energy adjustmentRegardless of the % UPF in the diet, GHGe, land use and water use pressures mostly occurred at the stage of agricultural production, in contrast, packaging and processing stages were also important contributors to energy demandContribution of the UPF category to total impact/pressure varied across indicators, with a high contribution of the UPF category to energy demand, due to the packaging and processing stages, but a low contribution to GHGe and land use, because higher consumers of UPF are lower consumers of animal products

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Ultra-processed foods should be central to global food systems dialogue and action on biodiversity

Cited by 41 publications

References 13 publications

The Metabolic Matrix: Re-engineering ultraprocessed foods to feed the gut, protect the liver, and support the brain

The Metabolic Matrix: Re-engineering ultraprocessed foods to feed the gut, protect the liver, and support the brain

Changing the global obesity narrative to recognize and reduce weight stigma: A position statement from the World Obesity Federation

Environmental impacts associated with UPF consumption: which food chain stages matter the most?Findings from a representative sample of French adults

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