Over the past five years, there has been growing concern about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with many consumers believing they are unhealthy. Environmental and health hazardsThe World Health Organization has published a damning report on the harmful effects of ATUs. Similarities between smoking and drinking alcohol. She then criticized the industry for the way it marketed ATUs.
Industry uses a variety of tactics, including misleading the public and falsely claiming that its products are environmentally friendly or have great benefits. Dr Hans Henri P Kluge is WHO Regional Director for Europe.
A new study from University College London looks at ultra-processed foods and finds the results are not good.
ATU and type 2 diabetes
Researchers have found that eating a lot of highly processed foods increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The Lancet Regional Health-Europe published the study, conducted by Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. The research examined the link between levels of food processing and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Over a 10-year period, the research team analyzed the UPF consumption and health outcomes of 311,892 people from eight European countries. During this period, 14,236 people were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It was found that the risk of type 2 increased by 17 % for every 10 % increase in ultra-processed food consumption.
Food and beverage groups with the highest risk of UPF included salty snacks, meat products, such as ready meals, and processed meats. Additionally, sugary or artificially sweetened beverages topped the list.
Researchers have not been able to identify the cause of this link, but they believe that obesity and excessive consumption are major contributors.
Samuel Dicken is the first author. “We are aware that ultra-processed foods can increase your risk of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Most studies have only looked at UFPs in their entirety, but there are different types of UFPs that may carry different risks. The risks of other processing groups also need to be better studied.”
The researchers also looked at the effect of reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods to see if this could alleviate the problem. They found that replacing 10 % of UPFs with minimally processed ingredients and foods reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14 %.
Dicken said: "Our analysis goes further than previous studies by looking at all four processing groups in the NOVA class to assess the risks of type 2 diabetes when we replace ultra-processed foods with less processed foods." The good news is that replacing ultra-processed foods with less processed foods was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
What are ultra-processed foods in Europe?
The NOVA classification system currently defines ultra-processed foods (UPF).
What is the NOVA classification system?
Nova is a system for classifying edible substances based on the degree of processing and the reason for the process. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil created the term in 2009.
The NOVA system classifies foods into four categories:
- Group 1Minimally or unprocessed foods
Examples include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, fish and legumes. - Group 2Ingredients processed for culinary use
Salt, sugar and oil are foods that can be added to foods rather than eaten alone. - Group 3Processed foods
Foods are created by mixing foods from Groups 1 and 2. These foods are prepared in the same way as if they were made by home cooks. They include jams, pickles and canned fruits and vegetables, homemade breads and cheeses. - Group 4Ultra-processed foods
They usually contain at least five ingredients. These products tend to contain additives or ingredients that are not normally used at home, such as preservatives. They have a long shelf life, such as biscuits and breakfast cereals.
What impact will this research have on the food industry?
This research may seem negative for the food industry, but it provides very clear direction for manufacturers. Reducing processing will reduce negative health effects. Many brands have already started to reduce the amount of ultra-processing and additives in their products.
Alice Pilkington is a senior food and drink analyst for Mintel. She told FoodNavigator that many health trends are on the rise and can be short-lived. The fact that so many Europeans don’t think this is just a healthy eating fad shows how important it is for food and drink brands to take this issue seriously. The UPF’s focus on the food industry could be described as a “turning point”.
The industry also needs to educate consumers about the effects of different types of ultra-processed foods. The industry’s failure to effectively communicate the reasoning behind certain processing methods is a major reason why so many consumers have a negative opinion of ultra-processed foods.
FoodNavigator reported that there is “a wide range of confusing information” about ultra-processed foods. Some of it is contradictory, while others are simply wrong. Klaus Grunert is a professor at Aarhus University in Denmark and director of the EIT Food Consumer Observatory. There is no consensus within the industry on what constitutes a UPF food, what to do with UPF in a balanced meal, or what level of processing to use to determine the safety of products. The lack of information about which foods are safe and which to avoid makes it difficult for consumers to make an informed choice.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high levels of blood glucose (or sugar). Over time, this high blood sugar can cause serious damage to your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and nervous system.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the two main types.
- Type 1 diabetes (also called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) is a chronic disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body is resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it. Over the past three decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically.
The World Health Organization estimates that 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes is directly responsible for approximately 1.5 million deaths each year.
Source: The relationship between dietary intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
Publication date: September 16, 2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101043
Authors: Samuel J. Dicken, Christina C. Dahm, Daniel B. Ibsen et al.