UK Government Calls For , Classification System to Define, Ultra-Processed Foods.
According to government scientists, evidence
linking ultra-processed foods to a number of health
issues "needs to be treated with caution.".
'The Independent' reports that the U.K. Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) say there are, “uncertainties around the quality of evidence available.”.
The evidence base for adverse effects
is based on a small number of observational
studies that have known limitations:
ultra-processed foods might be an
indicator of an overall unhealthy lifestyle, Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of nutrition and food science
at the University of Reading, via 'The Independent'.
The evidence base for adverse effects
is based on a small number of observational
studies that have known limitations:
ultra-processed foods might be an
indicator of an overall unhealthy lifestyle, Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of nutrition and food science
at the University of Reading, via 'The Independent'.
Previously, research linked ultra-processed
foods to health concerns that include
cancer, weight gain and heart disease.
According to U.K. government scientists, while the suggested links are "concerning," further studies need to be conducted to investigate any possible connections.
The systematic reviews identified have
consistently reported that increased
consumption of (ultra-)processed foods
was associated with increased risks
of adverse health outcomes. However,
there are uncertainties around
the quality of evidence available, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, via 'The Independent'.
According to the scientists, it is difficult to define
what is considered an ultra-processed food.
Studies are almost exclusively observational
and confounding factors or key variables
such as energy intake, body mass index,
smoking and socioeconomic status
may not be adequately accounted for, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that experts have
called for a food classification system to assess
which foods are considered ultra-processed.
The scientific committee called for the , “development of an ultra-processed foods
classification system that can reliably be applied to
estimate consumption of processed foods in the UK”