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Food Standards Scotland debunks 3 UPF myths
1. Processed doesn’t mean unhealthy
The terms processed and ultra processed describe how a food is made, not its nutritional value.
“Not all processed foods are equal and there are some which can play a role in helping us achieve a balanced diet that are both nutritious and convenient, such as whole grain breads and tinned beans,” explained Claire Hislop, organisational lead – food & physical activity at Public Health Scotland.
2. Processing is important for food safety
Part of the reason processing exists is to ensure that the food we consume is safe. Preservatives, emulsifiers and antioxidants help prevent spoilage and extend shelf life. The UK has high safety standards, with every additive undergoing a strict set of safety assessments before hitting shelves.
3. The research is limited
There is observational evidence which has linked ultra processed foods to poor health outcomes, but we have yet to determine if that is a result of the processing itself or the levels of fat, sugar and salt in a lot of the products we consume.
Alana McDonald, senior public health nutritionist at FSS, added: “While there is evidence of a link between processed and ultra-processed foods and health, the evidence base in relation to processing remains uncertain and of insufficient quality to propose changes to existing dietary recommendations at the moment.
“In contrast, there is robust evidence that diets high in calories, fats, sugars and salt increase the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and many types of cancer.”
The FSS is calling for consumers to refer to front-of-pack traffic lights and make "small, manageable changes" which it says can lead to big improvements over time.
“The Eatwell Guide shows how to achieve a diet that is healthy and more sustainable than our current one and we continue to advise consumers in Scotland to move towards this type of diet,” McDonald continued.
“Given that many ultra-processed foods are also HFSS, following existing advice for a healthy diet as outlined by the Eatwell Guide will also help reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods in the diet.”
Read Food Manufacture's exclusive commentary with the FDF's Karen Betts and Kate Halliwell on why UPFs aren't the silver bullet to tackling UK obesity.
