American regulators are turning their focus to ultra-processed foods

As the great Nick Saban and others say, “trust the process.” But that approach is now in question. US regulators are currently investigating the health effects of ultra-processed foods, which can be found on a majority of grocery shelves across the country.

First things first: Ultra-processed foods are mass-produced food items that are highly manipulated and contain lots of added ingredients. 

Examples include most packaged snacks, sweetened beverages, candy, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, french fries, and more (aka the good stuff). Ultra-processed foods make up nearly 50% of the average American’s diet.

• In recent years, scientists have noticed a connection between diets high in ultra-processed foods and health problems like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even mild depression or anxiety – but they have yet to pin down exactly what, if anything, is causing the problem.

👀 Looking ahead… Due to their outsized role in Americans’ diets, the federal government is currently reviewing ultra-processed foods and is expected to publish recommendations on the topic in its next dietary guidelines, which are released once every five years.

• Many food-industry groups and manufacturers, including Unilever and Barilla, have launched lobbying efforts aimed at promoting ultra-processed foods, arguing that processing makes food more safe, convenient, accessible, and affordable.