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What are Ultra-processed Foods? 

Ultra-processed food (UPFs) and “drink products are packaged formulations resulting from several sequences of industrial processes.” ^28.32 These processes involve “altering the natural state of food by incorporating ingredients like salt, oil, sugar, and other substances.”³ As a result, these products are “manufactured mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods and several additives used to mimic sensory properties of foods or to disguise unpalatable aspects of the final product.”² They typically contain “little or no intact foods, and are ready to be consumed without further preparation.”²  In other words, “they are laboratory engineered to maximize appeal, are calorie-dense, and have little or no fiber or other heartful nutrients.”⁴ 

Examples of ultra-processed food include snacks such as mass-manufactured chips, buns, and cookies, and reconstituted meat and poultry products such as sausages and nuggets. Additionally, many pre-packaged meals fall into this category.⁵

The term “ultra-processed foods” comes from the NOVA food classification system, which was developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.⁶ 

The system places food into four categories based on how much they have been processed during their production:

GROUP 1 – Unprocessed/minimally processed

• Foods unaltered or altered by processes such as removing inedible parts, drying, grinding, cooking pasteurization, freezing, or non-alcoholic fermentation. No substances are added. Processing aims to increase food stability and enable easier or more diverse preparation.
• Examples: Fresh or frozen fruits/vegetables, pulses, packaged/ grains, flours, nuts, plain pasta, pasteurized milk, chilled/frozen meat

GROUP 2 – Processed culinary ingredients

• Substances obtained directly from Group 1 foods or from nature, created by industrial processes such as pressing, centrifuging, refining, extracting or mining. Processing aims to create products to be used in preparation, seasoning and cooking of Group 1 foods.
• Examples: Butter, vegetable oils, other fats, sugar, molasses, honey, salt

GROUP 3 – Processed foods

• Products made by adding edible substances from Group 2 to Group 1 foods using preservation methods such as nonalcoholic fermentation, canning, or bottling. Processing aims to increase stability and durability of Group 1 foods and to make them more enjoyable.
• Examples: Canned vegetables in brine, freshly made breads or cheeses, cured meats

GROUP 4 – Ultra-processed foods

• Formulations of low-cost substances derived from Group 1 foods with little to no whole foods; always contain edible substances not used in home kitchens (e.g., protein isolates) and/or cosmetic additives (e.g., flavors, colors, emulsifiers). Processing involves multiple steps and industries and aims to create products liable to replace all other NOVA groups.

Examples: Packaged snacks, cookies/biscuits, instant soups/ noodles, ready-to-eat/heat meals, candy, soft drinks

Source: Global Food and Research Program, UNC 

Worldwide, excessive amounts of ultra-processed foods have been linked to health concerns ranging from increased risk of obesity, hypertension, depression, and cancer to dying prematurely from all causes. By raising awareness about the detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods, this resource guide aims to serve as a valuable tool for individuals, healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers in their journey toward promoting healthier dietary habits and reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Definitions 

The definition of “ultra-processed foods” (UPF) is always in a state of evolution. Here are a variety of technical and general definitions. 

1. “UPFs are artificial foods with organoleptic and sensory properties modified by the addition of ‘cosmetic’ additives and/or highly processed ingredients.”⁷ 
2. “They are characterized as having undergone excessive processing and containing additional ‘cosmetic’ ingredients and/or additives of primarily industrial use to mimic, exacerbate, mask or restore sensory properties (aroma, texture, taste and colour).”⁸ 
3. “Ultra-processed foods (UPF) (e.g., soft drinks, sweets, cookies, snacks, etc.) are those to which refined sugar and salt, fats, and food additives are added through industrial processes to improve their organoleptic properties, enhancing their attractiveness and increasing their consumption.”⁹ 
4. “They have characteristic organoleptic properties, and usually contain sophisticated additives, including artificial sweeteners, to intensify their sensory qualities and imitate the appearance of minimally processed food.”¹⁰ 
5. “Ultra-processed foods are formulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, typically created by a series of industrial techniques and processes (hence ‘ultra-processed’).”¹¹ 
6. “We might think of it as a novelty-type food — something that doesn’t resemble how a food might look in nature” – Kate Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.¹² 

Other terms for ultra-processed foods: 

• UPFs
• Highly processed food
• Junk food 

Facts and Data

• According to a study published in The BMJ, “ultra-processed foods are the main source (nearly 58%) of calories eaten in the US and contribute almost 90% of the energy we get from added sugars.”¹³
• A team from Northeastern’s Network Science Institute determined that “73% of the U.S. food supply is ultra-processed.”¹⁴
• The calories “children and adolescents consumed from ultra-processed foods jumped from 61% to 67% of total caloric intake from 1999 to 2018.”¹⁵
• “Ultra-processed foods account for 25 to 50 percent of the calories consumed in many other countries”, including England, Canada, France, and Japan.^16,17,18,19 
• “The UK is one of the biggest consumers per head in Europe of UPFs, with manufacturers often keen to produce more and more of these industrial, cheap foodstuffs.”²⁰
• Food, beverage, and restaurant companies spend almost $14 billion per year on advertising in the United States. Over” 80% of this advertising promotes fast food, sugary drinks, candy, and unhealthy snacks”.²¹

Search Engines and Search Terms

Searched on Google, Google News,  Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, MDPI with search terms:

• Ultra-Processed + Facts 
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Health
• Junk Food + Health 
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Maternal Health 
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Children 
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Mental Health
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Marketing
• Junk Food + Marketing Strategies
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Policy 
• Ultra-Processed + Toolkit
• Ultra-Processed + Socioeconomic
• Junk Food + Reduced Consumption
• Ultra-Processed Food + Resources 
• Ultra-Processed vs. Processed 
• Avoid + Processed Foods
• Ultra-Processed + Government Regulations (Google Search Settings set to UK) 
• Ultra-Processed Foods + Health (Google Search Settings set to the Netherlands) 
• Minimally Processed vs. Processed (Google Search Settings set to UK)

Publications 

Resource Websites 

• Ultra-Processed Foods: A Global Threat to Public Health (Global Food Research Program UNC, 2021) 
• What is Ultra-Processed Food? And Why Do People Disagree About Its Utility as a Concept? (Food Climate Research Network, 2019) 
• Ultra-Processed Foods, Diet Quality, and Health Using the NOVA Classification System (FAO, 2019) 
• Perspectives on Processed Foods (British Nutrition Foundation)
• Food Processing and Health (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
• Database of Ultra-Processed Foods (Northeastern University)

Research on Ultra-Processed Foods and Health

Cardiovascular Health 

• A Systematic Review on Processed/Ultra-Processed Foods and Arterial Hypertension in Adults and Older People (MDPI, 2022) 
• Association between ultraprocessed food intake and cardiovascular health in US adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES 2011–2016 (Clinical Nutrition, 2021) 
• Ultra-processed food intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective cohort study (NutriNet-Santé) (Clinical Nutrition, 2021) 

Diabetes 

• Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Three Large Prospective U.S. Cohort Studies (Diabetes Care, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food and incident type 2 diabetes: studying the underlying consumption patterns to unravel the health effects of this heterogeneous food category in the prospective Lifelines cohort (BMC Medicine, 2022) 
• Ultra-processed food and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies | International Journal of Epidemiology (International Journal of Epidemiology, 2021) 

Cancer 

• Food processing and cancer risk in Europe: results from the prospective EPIC cohort study – The Lancet Planetary Health (The Lancet Planetary Health, 2023) 
• Ultra-processed food consumption and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Clinical Nutrition, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of colorectal cancer precursors: results from 3 prospective cohorts (Journal of the National Cancer Society, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods and cancer risk: from global food systems to individual exposures and mechanisms (British Journal of Cancer, 2022) 
• Association of ultra-processed food consumption with colorectal cancer risk among men and women: results from three prospective US cohort studies (BMJ, 2022) 

All-Cause Mortality 

• How and why ultra-processed foods harm human health (The Proceedings of the Nutrition Study, 2023)
• Ultra-Processed Foods, Diet Quality and Human Health (Nutrients, 2023)
• Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Harm (Nutrients, 2023)
• Association Between Ultra-Processed Food Intake and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Ultra-processed food intake and all-cause mortality: DRECE cohort study (Cambridge University Press, 2021) 
• Association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and all cause mortality: SUN prospective cohort study (BMJ, 2019) 

Maternal Health 

• Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods and subsequent risk of offspring overweight or obesity: results from three prospective cohort studies (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Impacts of Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods on the Maternal-Child Health: A Systematic Review (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Associations of ultra-processed food intake with maternal weight change and cardiometabolic health and infant growth – PMC (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• A high periconceptional maternal ultra-processed food consumption impairs embryonic growth: The Rotterdam periconceptional cohort (Clinical Nutrition, 2022) 

Other 

• Perspective: A Research Roadmap about ultra-processed foods and human health for the US food system: Proceedings from an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder workshop (Advances in Nutrition, 2023)
• U.S. Policies Addressing Ultra-Processed Foods, 1980-2022 (The American Journal of Preventative Medicine) (American Journal of Medicine, 2023)
• Portion Sizes of Ultra-Processed Foods in the United States, 2002 to 2021 (National Library of Medicine, 2023) 
• Intake of Ultra-processed Foods Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Crohn’s Disease: A Cross-sectional and Prospective Analysis of 187 154 Participants in the UK Biobank (Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods in public health nutrition: the unanswered questions (Public Health Nutrition, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food consumption and adult obesity risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2023)
• Intake of ultra-processed foods and sleep-related outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Nutrition, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods and human health: from epidemiological evidence to mechanistic insights (The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2022) 
• Dissecting ultra-processed foods and drinks: Do they have a potential to impact the brain? (Springer Link, 2022)
•  Higher Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Is Associated with Greater High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Concentration in Adults: Cross-Sectional Results from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MDPI, 2022) 
• Association Between Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Incident CKD: A Prospective Cohort Study (American Journal of Kidney Disease, 2022) 
• Ultra-processed Foods and Risk of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Prospective Cohort Study (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2022) 
• Ultra-processed food consumption and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study (International Journal of Epidemiology, 2021) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods associated with weight gain and obesity in adults: A multi-national cohort study (Clinical Nutrition, 2021) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health outcomes: a systematic review of epidemiological studies (BMC, 2020) 
• Ultra-processed food consumption and obesity in the Australian adult population (Nutrition & Diabetes, 2020)  
• Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Outcomes: A Narrative Review (MDPI, 2020) 

Research on Ultra-Processed Foods and Mental Health 

• High ultra-processed food consumption is associated with elevated psychological distress as an indicator of depression in adults from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2023) 
• The association of ultra-processed food consumption with adult mental health disorders: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 260,385 participants (Nutritional Neuroscience, 2023)
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with depression, mesocorticolimbic volume, and inflammation (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2023)
• Premature Deaths Attributable to the Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods in Brazil (Global Health Promotion and Prevention, 2023)
• Ultra-Processed Food Intakes Are Associated with Depression in the General Population: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Nutrients, 2023)
• Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Depressive Symptoms in a Mediterranean Cohort (Nutrients, 2023)
• Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia (Neurology, 2022)
• Cross-sectional examination of ultra-processed food consumption and adverse mental health symptoms (Public Health Nutrition Cambridge University Press, 2022) 
• The association of ultra-processed food consumption with adult mental health disorders (Nutritional Neuroscience, 2022) 
• Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies (MDPI, 2022) 
• Prospective association between ultra-processed food consumption and incident depressive symptoms in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort (National Library of Medicine, 2019)

Children and Ultra-Processed Foods 

• Ultra-Processed Food Consumption is Associated with Alcoholic Beverage Drinking, Tobacco Smoking, and Illicit Drug Use in Adolescents: A Nationwide Population-Based Study (International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food for infants and toddlers; dynamics of supply and demand – PMC (National Library of Medicine, 2023) 
• Processed Food–Sweets Patterns and Related Behaviors with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among Children: A Case–Control Study (MDPI, 2023) 
• Ultra-Processed Food Intake Is Associated With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Israeli Children (Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2023) 
• Ultra-Processed Food, Reward System and Childhood Obesity (MDPI, 2023) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and associated factors in children from Barbacena (MG), Brazil (Revista Paulista de Pediatricia, 2023)
• Binge-Eating Precursors in Children and Adolescents: Neurodevelopment, and the Potential Contribution of Ultra-Processed Foods (Nutrients, 2023)
• The impact of ultra-processed foods on obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities in children and adolescents: a systematic review (Nutrition Reviews, 2023)
• Daily consumption of ultra-processed foods and cardiometabolic risk factors in children aged 7 to 10 years in Northeast Brazil (Nutrition and Health, 2023)
• Blood pressure variation and ultra-processed food consumption in children with obesity (European Journal of Pediatrics, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods in a rural Ecuadorian community: associations with child anthropometry and bone maturation (The British Journal of Nutrition, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food consumption and BMI-Z among children at risk for obesity from low-income households (Pediatric Obesity, 2023)
• The Ultra-Processed Food Content of School Meals and Packed Lunches in the United Kingdom (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and growth outcomes in early childhood: 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort (Cambridge University Press, 2022)
• Relationship Between Ultraprocessed Food Intake and Cardiovascular Health Among U.S. Adolescents: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018 (Clinical Nutrition, 2021) 
• Longitudinal associations between ultra-processed foods and blood lipids in childhood | British Journal of Nutrition (Cambridge University Press, 2020) 
• Processed and ultra-processed food consumption among children aged 13 to 35 months and associated factors (National Library of Medicine, 2017) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and body fat during childhood and adolescence: a systematic review (Cambridge University Press, 2017) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed food products and its effects on children’s lipid profiles: A longitudinal study (ScienceDirect, 2015) 

News and Media

• Why Is American Food So Unhealthy? (USNews, 2023) 
• Fat, Sugar, Salt … You’ve Been Thinking About Food All Wrong (WIRED UK, 2023)  
• Most Americans Don’t Know What ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Are—Do You? (Health, 2023) 
• What Ultra-Processed Foods Are (and Why They’re So Bad for You) (Cleveland Clinic, 2023) 
• Position statement on the concept of ultra-processed foods (UPF) (British Nutrition Foundation, 2023)
• What we know about the health risks of ultra-processed foods (NPR, 2023) 
• Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken — how our food turned to junk | Financial Times (Financial Times, 2023) 
• 5 foods you think are healthy but are actually ultra-processed (The Jerusalem Post, 2023)
• As experts warn ultra-processed foods increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, what are they and how can you avoid them? (Sky News, 2023)
• Wave of ill-health coming from ultra-processed food, experts warn (The Times UK, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods: the 19 things everyone needs to know (The Guardian, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food raises risk of heart attack and stroke, two studies show (The Guardian, 2023)
• Why is cancer striking earlier? One answer could be a diet of ultra-processed foods (The Guardian, 2023)
• Big effort needed on UK diet to fight ultra-processed food, say health experts (The Guardian, 2023)
• The oat milks that are ultra-processed foods… and the expert who says they are NOT healthier than regular cow’s milk (Daily Mail.com, 2023)
• What makes ultra-processed foods so bad for your health? (The Economist, 2023)
• How to cut back on junk food in your child’s diet — and when not to worry (NPR, 2023) 
• A Weight-Loss Podcaster’s Crusade Against Ultra-processed Food (The Atlantic, 2023) 
• The Link Between Highly Processed Foods and Brain Health (New York Times, 2023) 
• Could ultra-processed foods be harmful for us? – BBC News (BBC, 2023) 
• Melted, pounded, extruded: Why many ultra-processed foods are unhealthy (The Washington Post, 2023) 
• Ultra-processed foods: how bad are they for your health? (British Heart Foundation, 2023)  
• An Ultra-Processed Diet Made This Doctor Sick. Now He’s Studying Why (NPR Shots, 2023)
• Why Ultra-Processed Foods Matter: The State of World Hunger (Food Politics, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods: how bad are they for your health? (BHF, 2023) 
• Are ultra-processed foods harmful? Experts weigh the evidence (American Society for Nutrition, 2022)  
• Ultra-processed vs. minimally-processed – The debate continues (Food Business News, 2022) 
• What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? (Everyday Health, 2022)  
• Mayo Clinic Minute: What is ultra-processed food? (Mayo Clinic, 2022) 
• Fast food fever: how ultra-processed meals are unhealthier than you think (The Guardian, 2022) 
• Revealed: group shaping US nutrition receives millions from big food industry (The Guardian, 2022) 
• What doctors wish patients knew about ultraprocessed foods (AMA, 2022)  
• For a healthier world, target ultra-processed foods – UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (UNC, 2021)  
• If You Think Kids Are Eating Mostly Junk Food, A New Study Finds You’re Right (NPR, 2021)
•  Americans Are Eating More Ultra-Processed Foods: How to Cut Down on Them (Healthline, 2021) 
• Americans Are Eating More Ultra-Processed Foods (NYU, 2021) 
• Processed vs. ultra-processed food, and why it matters to your health (American Heart Association, 2020)  
• America’s packaged food supply is ultra-processed – Northwestern Now (Northwestern, 2019) 
• Why The FDA Has Never Looked At Some Of The Additives In Our Food : The Salt  (NPR, 2015) 
• What is ultra-processed food? (BBC)  

Marketing/Business of Ultra-Processed Foods

• WHO EMRO | Marketing of unhealthy foods | Nutrition site (WHO, 2023) 
• Behind the ‘creative destruction’ of human diets: An analysis of the structure and market dynamics of the ultra-processed food manufacturing industry and implications for public health (Journal of Agrarian Change, 2023)
• Promotion of ultra-processed foods in Brazil: combined use of claims and promotional features on packaging (SciELO Brazil, 2023)
• The ultra-processed food industry in Africa (Nature Food, 2023)
• Ecological regulation for healthy and sustainable food systems: responding to the global rise of ultra-processed foods (Agriculture and Human Values, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods marketed for infants and young children in the UK (First Steps Nutrition, 2023) 
• The Marketing of Ultraprocessed Foods in a National Sample of U.S. Supermarket Circulars: A Pilot Study (ScienceDirect, 2022) 
• “I Like the One With Minions”: The Influence of Marketing on Packages of Ultra-Processed Snacks on Children’s Food Choices (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Ultra-Processed Foods Elicit Higher Approach Motivation Than Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods (Frontiers, 2022)  
• Food marketing exposed ! – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2022) 
• Unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children on digital platforms in Aotearoa, New Zealand (BMC Public Health, 2022) 
• Ultra-processed foods and the corporate capture of nutrition—an essay by Gyorgy Scrinis (The MBJ, 2020) 
• Analysing persuasive marketing of ultra-processed foods on Brazilian television | SpringerLink (Springer Link, 2020) 
• Rudd Report- Increasing disparities in unhealthy food advertising targeted to Hispanic and Black youth (UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, 2019) 
• Food advertising on Argentinean television: are ultra-processed foods in the lead? | Public Health Nutrition | Cambridge Core (Cambridge University Press, 2017) 
• Ultra-processed family foods in Australia: nutrition claims, health claims and marketing techniques | Public Health Nutrition (Cambridge University Press, 2017) 
• Marketing of Ultra-processed and Processed Food and Non-alcoholic Drink Products – (PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization)
• Fast Food & Sugary Drinks (UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health) 

Socioeconomics of Ultra-Processed Foods

• Consumption of ultra-processed foods in Brazil: distribution and temporal evolution 2008–2018 (SciELO, 2023)
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and IL-6 in two cohorts from high- and middle-income countries (Cambridge University Press, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food consumption in UK adolescents: distribution, trends, and sociodemographic correlates using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19 (Yale, 2023)
• Ultra-processed food consumption and metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study in Quilombola communities of Alagoas, Brazil (International Journal for Equity in Health, 2023)
• Protecting traditional cultural food practices: Trends in diet quality and intake of ultra-processed foods by Indigenous status and race/ethnicity among a nationally representative sample of adults in Canada (SSM – Population Health, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods consumption reduces dietary diversity and micronutrient intake in the Mexican population (Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2023)
• Processed foods, socio-economic status, and peri-urban obesity in India (Food Policy, 2023)
• Ultra-Processed Food Availability and Sociodemographic Associated Factors in a Brazilian Municipality (Frontiers, 2022)  
• Gender and socio-economic stratification of ultra-processed and deep-fried food consumption among rural adolescents: A cross-sectional study from Bangladesh (PLOS ONE, 2022) 
• Socio-economic difference in purchases of ultra-processed foods in Australia: an analysis of a nationally representative household grocery purchasing panel (BMC, 2022) 
• Educational inequality in consumption of in natura or minimally processed foods and ultra-processed foods: The intersection between sex and race/skin color in Brazil (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• The Processed food revolution in African food systems and the Double Burden of Malnutrition (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Social status and the consumption of highly processed foods in Nigeria (Oxford Academic, 2022) 
• Socio-economic difference in purchases of ultra-processed foods in Australia: an analysis of a nationally representative household grocery purchasing panel (National Library of Medicine, 2022)  
• Socioeconomic Characteristics and Trends in the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods in Korea from 2010 to 2018 (National Library of Medicine, 2021) 
• Current Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods in the U.S. Adult Population According to Education-Level and Income (Oxford Academic, 2021)
• How Big Companies Target Middle Income Countries To Sell Ultra-Processed Foods (The WIRE, 2021) 
• Sociodemographic factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods in Colombia (National Library of Medicine, 2020) 
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and socioeconomic position: a cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) (National Library of Medicine, 2019) 
• The price of ultra-processed foods and beverages and adult body weight: Evidence from U.S. veterans (ScienceDirect, 2019)
• Consumption of ultra-processed foods and associated sociodemographic factors in the USA between 2007 and 2012: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study (BMJ Open, 2017) 

Policy Solutions and News 

• WHO’s Updated Guidance For NCDs Is A Great Start, But Must Steer Clear Of Corporate Interference (Health Policy Watch, 2023) 
• Calls for cigarette-style health warnings for ultra-processed foods (Evening Standard,  2023) 
• How the UK government is promoting ultra-processed junk food to families (Soil Association, 2023) 
• Good Food is Vital for Brain Health So We Must Change the Food Industry  (Baker Institute, 2023) 
• Food Regulation and the Future of Ultra-Processed Food (Euromonitor, 2023) 
• Conceptualizing the drivers of ultra-processed food production and consumption and their environmental impacts: A group model-building exercise (Global Food Security, 2023)
• Barriers and Facilitators Related to the Adoption of Policies to Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A Scoping Review (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023)
• The growth of ultra-processed foods in India (WHO, 2023)
• Understanding the corporate political activity of the ultra - processed food industry in East Asia: a Philippines case study (Globalization and Health, 2023)
• Ultra-processed foods: a fit-for-purpose concept for nutrition policy activities to tackle unhealthy and unsustainable diets (Cambridge University Press, 2023)
• Decolonising research, advocacy and public policy on healthy diets (PLOS Global Public Health, 2023)
• Does the concept of “ultra-processed foods” help inform dietary guidelines, beyond conventional classification systems? YES | (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022) 
• The regulation of ultra-processed food products: the challenge of ruling the market (National Library of Medicine, 2022) 
• Ultra-Processed Foods: Definitions and Policy Issues  (Current Developments in Nutrition, 2022) 
• Regulating the Food Industry: An Aspirational Agenda (American Journal of Public Health, 2022) 
• The Political Economy of Countering the Global Spread of Ultra-Processed Foods – A Synthesis Review on the Market and Political Practices of Transnational Food Corporations and Strategic Public Health Responses (National Library of Medicine, 2021) 
• Toward unified and impactful policies for reducing ultraprocessed food consumption and promoting healthier eating globally (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 2021) 
• Ultra-processed diets and epidemics of obesity and noncommunicable diseases are still avoidable for some countries: Policy options for a different Nutrition Transition (Global Food Research Program UNC, 2021)
•  ‘Warning: ultra-processed’ — A call for warnings on foods that aren’t really foods  (BMJ Global Health, 2021) 
• Ultraprocessed Food: Addictive, Toxic, and Ready for Regulation (National Library of Medicine, 2020) 
• Public health response to ultra-processed food and drinks  (The BMJ, 2020) 
• Ultra-processed food industry regulation for tackling obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in the Brazilian legislature: many proposals, no enactments (Cambridge University Press, 2020) 
• Policy Brief: Front-of-Pack Labeling (World Heart Federation, 2020) 
• Ultra-processed foods: an EU health crisis (United European Gastroenterology, 2019) 
• Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (World Health Organization, 2016)  

Government Regulations 

• In EU, a food fight over nutrition labels (Medical Express, 2023) 
• Ultra Processed Foods Briefing (French National Assembly, 2023) 
• Marketing ban tackles TV ads for unhealthy foods in Chile (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2023) 
• Restricting promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar, or salt: consultation analysis (Scottish Government, 2023) 
• Argentina Now Requires Big Food To Add Warning Labels To Ultra-Processed Foods (Health Policy Watch, 2022) 
• Colombia – Global Food Research Program (Global Food Research Program UNC Chapel Hill, 2022) 
• Canada’s new front-of-pack food label – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2022)  
• Junk food ads ban is delayed to give companies time to adjust to new rules (Daily Mail, 2022)
• The need to reshape global food processing: a call to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (BMJ, 2021)  
• Superior Efficacy of Front-of-Package Warning Labels in Jamaica (PAHO, 2021)  
• Brazil Bans Advertising and Promoting of Ultra-Processed Foods  (Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center, 2018) 
• France Becomes Second Country in Europe to Implement Government-Official Front-of-pack Nutrition Labeling System (Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center 2018)  

Opinion Pieces

• ‘Ultra-processed foods’ (FoodDrinkEurope, 2023) 
• Banning ultra-processed food is not a nanny-state issue. It’s common sense (The Guardian, 2023)
• Processed foods are making us sick: It’s time for the FDA and USDA to step in (Food Safety News, 2023) 
• Industry funded study of the week: ultra-processed foods are OK, really – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2023)  
• The pushback on ultra-processed foods – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2023) 
• Industry-influenced commentary of the week: soy foods should not be considered ultra-processed – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2022) 
•  More to processing than meets the eye – FoodDrinkEurope (FoodDrinkEurope, 2022) 
• Industry-influenced commentary of the week: soy foods should not be considered ultra-processed – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2022) 
• At last, a call for leadership to prevent diet-related chronic disease – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2021)  
• Ultra-processing is the new frontier in public health policy—reflections on the National Food Strategy (The BMJ, 2021) 
• Are law suits against food companies “frivolous?” – Food Politics by Marion Nestle (Food Politics, 2021) 
• Ultra-processing is the new frontier in public health policy—reflections on the National Food Strategy (The BMJ, 2021) 
• Reshaping the food environment to reduce NCDs (PAHO/World Health Organization, 2018) 

Books

• Ultra-Processed People: Why We Can’t Stop Eating Food That Isn’t Food (Chris van Tulleken, 2023)
• Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health (Marion Nestle, 2023)
• Unsavory Truth: How Food Companies Skew the Science of What We Eat (Marion Nestle, 2018)
• Eat This!: How Fast Food Marketing Gets You to Buy Junk (And How To Fight Back) (Andrea Curtis, 2018)
• The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor (Mark Schatzker, 2016)

Podcasts & Discussions

• How the food industry created today’s obesity crisis (Marion Nestle, 2023)
• Nova Campfire: The Future of Food (Nova Institute, 2023)

How to Cut Down on Ultra-Processed Foods

• 10 Realistic Ways to Eat Less Processed Food (Healthline, 2021)  
• Food Guides: A Strategy to Reduce the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Prevent Obesity  (Pan American Journal of Public Health, 2019) 
• Six Ways to Eliminate Junk Food in Your Diet (Rutgers NJAES) (Rutgers, 2018)
• Limit Highly Processed Foods (Government of Canada)  
• Eating Processed Foods (National Health Service)
• 100 Days of Real Food 

This resource guide presents a comprehensive overview of ultra-processed foods, drawing on a variety of reliable and reputable sources, including studies and expert opinions. The evidence gathered highlights the importance of understanding the risks associated with consuming ultra-processed foods and the need for individuals to actively work on reducing their consumption.

References 

1. Lustig RH. Ultraprocessed Food: Addictive, Toxic, and Ready for Regulation. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3401. Published 2020 Nov 5. doi:10.3390/nu12113401

2. Baraldi LG, Martinez Steele E, Canella DS, Monteiro CA. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and associated sociodemographic factors in the USA between 2007 and 2012: Evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2018;8(3). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020574 

3. Katherine D. McManus M. What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for our health? Harvard Health Publishing. January 9, 2020. Accessed June 29, 2023. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605.

4. Berg S. What doctors wish patients knew about Ultraprocessed Foods. American Medical Association. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 29, 2023. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-ultraprocessed-foods.

5. Marx J. Ultra-processed food and ADHD. New Brain Nutrition. May 14, 2021. Accessed June 29, 2023. https://newbrainnutrition.com/ultra-processed-food-and-adhd/.

6. Martínez Steele E, Baraldi LG, Louzada ML, Moubarac J-C, Mozaffarian D, Monteiro CA. Ultra-processed foods and added sugars in the US diet: Evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(3). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009892 

7. Mayo Clinic Minute: What is ultra-processed food? – mayo clinic news network. Mayo Clinic. September 9, 2022. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-are-ultraprocessed-foods-2/.

8. Fardet A, Rock E. Ultra-Processed Foods and Food System Sustainability: What Are the Links? Sustainability. 2020; 12(15):6280. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156280

9.  Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Levy RB, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-941. doi:10.1017/S1368980018003762

10. Contreras-Rodriguez, O., Solanas, M. & Escorihuela, R.M. Dissecting ultra-processed foods and drinks: Do they have a potential to impact the brain?. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 23, 697–717 (2022). doi.org/10.1007/s11154-022-09711-2

11. Monteiro, C.A., Cannon, G., Lawrence, M., Costa Louzada, M.L. and Pereira Machado, P. 2019. Ultra-processed foods, diet quality, and health using the NOVA classification system. Rome, FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/ca5644en/ca5644en.pdf

12. Howland J. Mayo Clinic Minute: What is ultra-processed food? – mayo clinic news network. Mayo Clinic. September 9, 2022. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-are-ultraprocessed-foods-2/. 

13. Price JT. Has your food been chemically altered? new database of 50,000 products provides answers. Northeastern Global News. August 9, 2022. Accessed June 29, 2023. https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/05/25/ultra-processed-food-database/. 

14. Wang L, Martínez Steele E, Du M, et al. Trends in consumption of ultraprocessed foods among US youths aged 2-19 years, 1999-2018. JAMA. 2021;326(6):519. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.10238 

15. Rauber F, Steele EM, Louzada ML, Millett C, Monteiro CA, Levy RB. Ultra-processed food consumption and indicators of obesity in the United Kingdom population (2008-2016). PLOS ONE. 2020;15(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232676 

16. Moubarac J-C, Batal M, Louzada ML, Martinez Steele E, Monteiro CA. Consumption of ultra-processed foods predicts diet quality in Canada. Appetite. 2017;108:512-520. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.006 

17. Calixto Andrade G, Julia C, Deschamps V, et al. Consumption of ultra-processed food and its association with sociodemographic characteristics and diet quality in a representative sample of French adults. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):682. doi:10.3390/nu13020682

18.  Koiwai K, Takemi Y, Hayashi F, et al. Consumption of ultra-processed foods decreases the quality of the overall diet of middle-aged Japanese adults. Public Health Nutrition. 2019;22(16):2999-3008. doi:10.1017/s1368980019001514 

19. Mertens E, Colizzi C, Peñalvo JL. Ultra-processed food consumption in adults across Europe. European Journal of Nutrition. 2021;61(3):1521-1539. doi:10.1007/s00394-021-02733-7 

20. How the food industry created today’s obesity crisis, with Marion Nestle (ep. 110). University of Chicago News. March 30, 2023. Accessed June 29, 2023. https://news.uchicago.edu/how-food-industry-created-todays-obesity-crisis-marion-nestle

21. Harris JL. Targeted marketing report. Increasing disparities in unhealthy food advertising targeted to Hispanic and Black youth. January 2019. Accessed July 5, 2023. https://media.ruddcenter.uconn.edu/PDFs/TargetedMarketingReport2019.pdf.