The team, composed of researchers from several countries, responded to criticisms of their research on ultra-processed foods , likening attempts to “sow scientific doubt” about them to the methods used by tobacco companies .

The scientific community has witnessed widespread debate regarding ultra-processed foods, with some health and nutrition experts raising concerns that the term is not clearly defined and suggesting that more research is needed.

ultra-processed foods

However, leading researchers in the field of ultra-processed foods, writing in the medical journal The Lancet, have asserted that these foods pose a serious risk that requires immediate action.
In the first of three research papers, scientists reviewed 104 previous studies and demonstrated that a diet rich in ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of a range of diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and premature death.

The third research paper blamed a group of large corporations for altering global food systems in recent decades by resorting to intensive marketing campaigns to sell products made from cheap ingredients and using industrial methods.
The study’s authors called on countries to place warnings on food labels, restrict marketing, especially advertising aimed at children, and impose taxes on certain ultra-processed products, using the resulting revenue to make fresh food more accessible to low-income families.
The researchers welcomed the “valid scientific criticism” of the NOVA classification system developed by Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro, the lead researcher in the first study.

Fats, salt, and sugar

The NOVA system, which categorizes food into four levels from least to most processed, has come under scrutiny for failing to account for nutrients known to be unhealthy, such as fat, salt, and sugar.
This means that foods considered healthy, like meat substitutes, plant-based milk, and some types of bread and canned vegetables, could be considered ultra-processed.
Researchers have highlighted the significant role of fat, salt, and sugar and called for future research to isolate the effects of ultra-processing in foods like flavored and plain yogurt.