‘Poisonous’ ultra-processed foods should be slapped with a tax and stickers warning they make you overeat, top expert claims

By Liam On Dec 4, 2023

The government should impose a tax on 'toxic' ultra-processed food, according to a top food expert.

According to Professor Tim Spector of King's College London, there should be stickers on foods warning that people can overeat by 25 percent.

The outspoken recommendations were made at an event held by the Royal Society in London called Advancing the Science of Human Nutrition.

Professor Spector said: 'If I were in charge, I would ban all health claims on ultra-processed food.

'I think it's absolutely hypocritical to make health claims on ultra-processed foods – like 'this will help your immune system' or 'a source of calcium' or 'extra protein', when all you're doing is giving people toxic food to make them sick .'

The government should impose a tax on 'toxic' ultra-processed food, according to a top food expert. According to Professor Tim Spector (pictured) from King's College London, foods should have stickers warning that they can make people overeat by 25 percent.

The expert said the “sugar tax” imposed by the government on carbonated drinks should be extended to ultra-processed foods, those made with ingredients not found in a typical kitchen, such as preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, and those grains include. flavored yogurt and chips (photo)

WHAT ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS?

Ultra-processed foods are high in added fat, sugar and salt, low in protein and fiber and contain artificial colours, sweeteners and preservatives.

The term refers to foods that contain ingredients that someone would not add when cooking at home, such as chemicals, colorings and preservatives.

Ready meals, ice cream, sausages, fried chicken and ketchup are some of the most popular examples.

They differ from processed foods, which are processed to extend their shelf life or improve their taste, such as cured meats, cheese and fresh bread.

Ultra-processed foods, such as sausages, breakfast cereals, biscuits and carbonated drinks, are formulations made largely or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives.

They contain little to no unprocessed or minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds and eggs.

The foods are usually packed with sugars, oils, fats and salt, as well as additives such as preservatives, antioxidants and stabilizers.

Ultra-processed foods are often presented as ready-to-eat, taste good and are cheap.

Source: Open Food Facts

He said: 'I would tax ultra-processed foods, increase the successful sugar tax and use that to subsidize fruit and vegetables.'

There is some evidence that ultra-processed foods (UPF), which are typically high in calories, salt, sugar and fat, can cause people to overeat, consume more calories and gain more weight.

Some experts claim they increase people's appetite and disrupt the signals from the gut to the brain that tell us when we are full, although others dispute this.

Professor Spector described a 'special combination of things' in the way UPF is made that causes people to overeat by 25 percent.

He said, 'That data is there, go prove it. Until then, we should consider this a dangerous way to make food because it is linked to poor health.

“And we need to slowly start taking the things that we know are unhealthy and putting a sticker on them that says, 'Be careful, this stuff will make you eat 25 percent too much.' By all means, eat it, but stop costing healthcare.” of money.'

Professor Spector, co-founder of personalized nutrition company ZOE, aims to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed food from almost 60 percent to less than 15 percent – the level we see in Southern Europe.

The Royal Society event also included a keynote speech from the government's former food adviser, Henry Dimbleby, who attacked the government for its inaction on food and poor health.

He said: 'You have a Prime Minister who, because of his own, I think, almost personal aesthetic, would rather try to deal with smoking, which he sees as bad, even though it is now a small and disappearing problem. instead of food, because he likes to drink coke, full coke, so he's not interested.'

Mr Dimbleby, co-founder of restaurant chain Leon, also criticized new Health Minister Victoria Atkins' potential conflict of interest as her husband, Paul Kenward, is a director at British Sugar, while food is “one of the biggest issues she faces.” has to contend with'. faces'.

The food campaigner said he had decided to 'virtually' stop national campaigning and focus on schools, which can help people learn to cook healthy food.

WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?

Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole grains, according to the NHS

• Eat at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count

• Basic meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole wheat

• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 whole wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of whole wheat bread and large baked potato with skin on

• Provide some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks), opting for lower fat and lower sugar options

• Eat some beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish per week, one portion of which is fatty)

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small quantities

• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water per day

• Adults should have less than 6 g of salt and 20 g of saturated fat for women or 30 g for men per day

Source: NHS Eatwell Guide