How Lancet's New Study has Come Hown Heavily Upon the Brands Producing Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-processed food (UPF) has been found to pose a seismic threat to global health, according to a recent report from The Lancet released on November 19, which comes down heavily on brands for displaying — or rather glorifying — ultra-processed food items not only through their labelling and packaging but also through advertising.

The report has highlighted how ultra-processed food is connected with harm in almost every major organ system of the human body and creates a seismic threat to global health. The report mentions that the UPF is also displacing fresh food, especially in the meals of children and adults on every continent, which is one of the leading causes of diseases obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

As we spoke to the food author, and Communications Strategist, Nikhil Kamath, he puts out the problem simply. "Once in a blue moon, all of us end up consuming something or the other that is ultra-processed; be it a ready-to-eat poha, cup noodles or frozen chicken nuggets."

What is causing the increase? 

According to the report, the profit-driven corporations have been directly blamed for using a range of aggressive tactics to drive consumption, as their review suggests. The three papers released as part of the series highlights how people, globally, have been consuming ready meals, cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks and fast food, directly impacting their health

Talking of the UK and the US, more than half the average diet now consists of UPF, especially among the younger people. This results in a compromised diet, as much as 80%. 

As a result of such a diet, evidence in the report highlights how there is a direct linkage between overeating, poor nutritional quality and higher exposure to harmful chemicals and additives. Almost 104 long-term studies were conducted for the series also attributed this to the early death from all causes and more chronic diseases.

Flagging the concern, Vijay Nihalchandani, who owns hotel chains, says, "To be honest, ultra-processed foods are currently impossible to avoid because they are convenient and affordable. From our morning biscuits to evening snacks, they are everywhere."

Prof Carlos Monteiro, professor of public health nutrition at the University of São Paulo, reportedly, has mentioned how the ultra-processed foods harm every major organ system in the human body, and that the evidence strongly suggests that humans are not biologically adapted to consume them.

In the Nova classification system for foods, he, along with his colleagues, divided the groups by level of processing, from one unprocessed or minimally processed food, such as whole fruits and vegetables, to four: ultra-processed. 

This category consists of the products that are industrially manufactured, in which a lot of artificial flavours and colourings are used. According to the report, these include soft drinks and packaged snacks, which are extremely palatable and high in calories but low in nutrients.

"Of course, brands (indian in the context of our conversation) always try to glorify it, claiming the stuff is nutrient-rich and all that health-related jargon. But you look at the ingredients and you'll see all the chemicals and artificial additives that are listed," Delhi-based Kamath says, adding, "That itself is a red flag!"

While Nihalchandani presents a contrary reality, the concern remains the same. "Currently, there are absolutely no clear warnings. Instead, we see the opposite—we see 'False Health Claims.' A packet full of sugar will highlight 'Added Vitamins' on the front to distract us," the founder of Homeescape Apartments, Make My Payment and Travinities says.

Commenting upon the jargon, he adds, "As a consumer, I don’t want to read a complex ingredients list; I want a clear 'High Sugar' or 'High Sodium' warning on the front so I can make a better choice instantly."

The second paper in the series offers, rather, policies to regulate and reduce UPF production, marketing, and consumption. It said: "The global public health response is still nascent, akin to where the tobacco control movement was decades ago," even though it considers that some countries have brought in rules to reformulate foods and control UPF. 

"As far as warnings on packaging are concerned, certain health hazards are already mentioned on the packs. If you want hazard warnings like those on cigarette and tobacco packs, then there has to be a policy change towards it," says Kamath.

On the other hand, the series's second paper revolves around the global corporations, not individual choices, that are driving the rise of UPF. In terms of the UPF being the leading cause of the “chronic disease pandemic”, which is linked to diet, with food companies putting profit above all else, as the authors said.

Furthermore, it also highlights how the main barrier to protecting health is “corporate political activities, coordinated transnationally through a global network of front groups, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and research partners, to counter opposition and block regulation”.

Apprehensions and solutions, if any!

The majority of the brands we reached out to refused to comment or share their viewpoints on their packaging, branding and advertising of the ultra-processed foods.

"Brands are hesitant to change for two simple reasons: Profit and Addiction. Real ingredients spoil quickly and cost more. Ultra-processed ingredients are cheap and last on the shelf for months," Nihalchandani states. He adds, "Their biggest apprehension is that clear warning labels (like on cigarette packs) will destroy their sales. If a 'Healthy Cereal' box suddenly has a big red label saying 'High in Sugar,' the illusion breaks, and people will stop buying it."

According to Kamath, however, consumers are becoming more aware of it. "There are definitely known hazards of ultra-processed foods. Consuming them regularly definitely isn't good for health," he says. 

Talking about its solutions, he says, "The easy solution is to start reading what's on the label. "Hardly anyone does that. A behavioural shift is needed towards it. Then there are, of course, brands that have now come up that provide cleaner (for the lack of a better word) alternatives. Look them up. The best thing to do is to stick to home-cooked food. If you don't know how to cook, then learn it."