Contents
Govt Abstract
Are we ultra-processed obsessed?
What’s ultra-processed meals?
How does ultra-processed meals affect well being?
Is ultra-processed meals actually that unhealthy?
How can we eat healthily in an ultra-processed world?
How can Gousto assist?
References
Govt Abstract
Gousto has launched a brand new health-focused marketing campaign in partnership with Dr Hilary Jones MBE to spark a nationwide dialog about how at the moment’s consuming habits will form tomorrow’s well being. With a concentrate on ultra-processed meals (UPFs) and their affect on well being, Gousto has commissioned impartial analysis to uncover what issues most to the nation concerning wholesome consuming. Key findings embody:
69% are involved concerning the affect of UPFs on their well being
60% are confused by the time period ultra-processed meals
On common, individuals cook dinner from scratch 3.75 occasions every week.
42% want entry to inexpensive wholesome elements, and 30% want extra time to cook dinner
Whereas a weight-reduction plan that features too many UPFs is undoubtedly unhealthy for well being, Physician Hilary Jones describes how UPFs could be loved often as a part of a various weight-reduction plan filled with fruit, greens and complete meals. He additionally advises easy swaps to cut back UPF consumption and enhance cooking with pure whole-food elements from scratch.
Are we ultra-processed obsessed?
Within the UK, ultra-processed meals is on the rise. With recognition steadily rising over the previous twenty years, the UK is now the second greatest shopper of UPFs at 56% of each day vitality consumption (DEI). That’s simply 2% lower than the USA and 36% greater than Italy, the place UPFs are the least standard at simply 10% of DEI.1
In December 2024, Gousto surveyed 3000 individuals to know how the British public feels about ultra-processed meals. In response to the information, 84% of persons are conscious of UPFs, 65% declare they’re too troublesome to keep away from and 53% admit they’re not sure whether or not they’re shopping for ultra-processed meals when meals purchasing or consuming out.
On well being, 60% are unaware of the long-term impacts of Extremely Processed Meals. 41% of respondents stated they’re extra involved about UPFs when planning their weekly store, whereas simply 20% are extra involved about maintaining a balanced weight-reduction plan. The information reveals that UPFs have captured the nation’s consideration, regardless of 56% of respondents admitting they’re overwhelmed by the obtainable info.
What’s ultra-processed meals?
Individuals have been processing meals for hundreds of years since discovering the right way to cook dinner, dry, ferment and mill. From pasteurised milk and tinned veg to dried fruit and recent home made bread, the fashionable weight-reduction plan contains a wide range of processed meals. The time period ultra-processed meals was coined by Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro, creator of the NOVA classification system. The framework places all meals into 4 teams: unprocessed or minimally processed meals, processed culinary elements, processed meals and ultra-processed meals.2
In response to NOVA, UPFs are manufactured utilizing industrial strategies and processes that may’t replicated by house cooks. Merchandise are typically formulated with elements far faraway from their authentic state – group one unprocessed or minimally processed meals – and mixed with components equivalent to preservatives, antioxidants and stabilizers.3 A number of the hottest UPFs embody prepared meals, crisps, fizzy drinks, chocolate, rooster nuggets, ice cream, baked beans and biscuits.
Monteiro additionally recognized the reason why persons are selecting to eat UPFs. They’re handy, scrumptious, low cost and infrequently last more than recent meals. Gousto’s analysis echoes his findings, with 75% of surveyed individuals claiming comfort is a barrier to wholesome selections. Moreover, when requested how they may eat extra healthily, 42% stated they would wish entry to inexpensive, nutritious elements, whereas 30% would wish extra time to cook dinner and 20% extra time to buy.
How does ultra-processed meals affect well being?
The analysis reveals the British public is anxious concerning the potential well being implications of UPFs. 88% of individuals conscious of ultra-processed meals are involved about having too many UPFs, with vitamin and elevated weight achieve on the prime of their checklist of worries.
However is there trigger for concern? An umbrella assessment of present scientific research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) discovered that UPFs trigger over 32 opposed well being outcomes, together with weight problems, gastrointestinal problems, bronchial asthma, anxiousness and a wide range of completely different cancers.
It’s vital to know that the research explored by the BMJ have been simply observational, which suggests it’s nonetheless unclear which elements, processes or qualities are dangerous to well being. For instance, are UPFs harmful as a result of they’re typically excessive in fats and sugar, and low in fibre and important nutritional vitamins? Or are there particular components that trigger long-term harm? We nonetheless don’t know for positive.
“Extremely-processed meals aren’t inherently dangerous, however after they dominate our diets and change recent, nutrient-rich meals, they will enhance the danger of long-term well being points,” says Physician Hilary Jones. “Cardiologists, diabetologists, endocrinologists and nutritionists all agree that we have to cut back our consumption of ultra-processed meals considerably to enhance well being.” This implies dialling again our reliance on prepared meals and comfort meals whereas rising the amount of recent fruit, greens and high-fibre wholegrains we eat.
Is ultra-processed meals actually that unhealthy?
Whereas NOVA places ultra-processed meals into the highlight, the system itself has been critiqued for being too broad and obscure, and the general public agrees. 60% of individuals in Gousto’s survey admitted they’re confused by the time period ultra-processed meals. Whereas a few of this confusion stems from the sheer quantity of recent info within the media highlight, it additionally comes from the classification system itself.
For instance, present NOVA standards would classify some shop-bought wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals, fruit yoghurts, and baked beans as UPF though they doubtlessly contribute to an inexpensive, nutritious diet. Equally, gluten-free merchandise or fortified plant-based milk options would classify as UPF regardless of their potential medical or dietary advantages. The British Diet Basis has additionally famous that some UPFs could be mixed with recent or canned elements to arrange low-cost nutritious meals.4 With an space as gray as this, it’s straightforward to see why the British public is confused by ultra-processed meals.
How can we eat healthily in an ultra-processed world?
Fortuitously, it’s not all doom and gloom. The important thing to UPFs and lots of issues individuals wish to eat most is moderation. As Physician Hilary suggests, “a balanced weight-reduction plan stuffed with recent, complete elements is important for stopping power situations and supporting general well being”
Physician Hillary recommends individuals begin by making easy swaps to their each day weight-reduction plan together with:
Snacking on chopped carrots, celery or apple as a substitute of biscuits, truffles and confectionery, or uncooked nuts as a substitute of crisps
Selecting tea, espresso or a glass of skimmed milk as a substitute of fizzy drinks
Serving pasta with passata, herbs and a bit salt as a substitute of jarred pasta sauces
Swapping frozen chips, that are coated in maltodextrin and flavourings, for jacket potatoes with a drizzle of oil or a bit butter
Tucking right into a dessert of frozen fruit and recent cream as a substitute of ice cream
Beginning the day with oats with banana and dried fruit as a substitute of sugary breakfast cereals, or boiled eggs and Ryvita as a substitute of fried eggs and bacon
Past swaps, Physician Hilary says that “cooking from scratch is likely one of the best methods to minimise our UPF consumption and keep a balanced weight-reduction plan.” In response to Gousto’s analysis, the British public cooks from scratch a median of three.75 occasions every week, or simply over half of the week. Growing home-cooked meals doesn’t imply utterly eradicating UPFs. “As long as meals and snacks favour recent, nutritious elements, UPFs could be included moderately.”
How can Gousto assist?
Gousto provides “a sensible resolution, making it simpler to prioritise vitamin with out sacrificing comfort,” says Physician Hillary. Gousto delivers exact, pre-measured elements for over 500 recipes each month on to doorsteps throughout the nation. Catering to households of all styles and sizes, prospects can select bins for 1 to five individuals and pack them with scrumptious recipes, prepared in as little as 10 minutes. Simply 11percent6 of the elements utilized in Gousto recipes are thought-about UPFs. These embody meat merchandise like sausages or burgers, cooking paste, bread and plant-based options.
Whereas Gousto has all the time focussed on the significance of a balanced weight-reduction plan with recent elements, the model has stepped up even additional to supply extra choices to assist prospects attain their well being targets. In 2024, Gousto launched the Well being Hub, its one-stop store for the most well-liked well being ranges; Veg Enhance for recipes filled with at the least 3 of your 5-a-day, Protein Hit for recipes filled with over 30g of protein per portion, and Calorie Managed for meals of 600 energy and underneath.
In 2025, Gouto goals to make nutritious house cooking much more accessible with:
A brand new firm UPF coverage to make sure Gousto helps prospects to make balanced, nutritious selections
An expanded Well being Hub with as much as 150% extra wholesome recipes per week vs 20247
Higher comfort with trials for next-day supply
Past providing extra wholesome choices than ever earlier than, Gousto desires to encourage change within the meals business too. Gousto is asking for extra rigorous requirements for measuring and classifying UPFs, in addition to larger transparency round nutritionals to make it simpler for individuals to make extra knowledgeable selections.
References
1 Extremely-processed meals and extreme free sugar consumption within the UK: a nationally consultant cross-sectional research
2 Extremely-processed meals consumption in adults throughout Europe
3 Extremely-processed meals: what they’re and the right way to establish them
4 The UN Decade of Diet, the NOVA meals classification and the difficulty with ultra-processing
5 British Diet Basis UPF Place Assertion
6 Based mostly on 2023 Gousto information
7 Based mostly on the minimal variety of weekly wholesome recipes in Jan 2025 in comparison with the minimal worth in Jan 2024
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