UPFs should also be heavily taxed due to impact on health and mortality, says scientist who coined term

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are displacing healthy diets “all over the world” despite growing evidence of the risks they pose and should be sold with tobacco-style warnings, according to the nutritional scientist who first coined the term.

Prof Carlos Monteiro of the University of São Paulo will highlight the increasing danger UPFs present to children and adults at the International Congress on Obesity this week.

“UPFs are increasing their share in and domination of global diets, despite the risk they represent to health in terms of increasing the risk of multiple chronic diseases,” Monteiro told the Guardian ahead of the conference in São Paulo.

  • lili_thana
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    5 months ago

    Cancer is a big risk

    Had a friend of mine die on Thanksgiving last year in his early 30s from it. He was never obese in his life.

      • lili_thana
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        5 months ago

        More pointing out that there is a correlation with our modern diet and the rise of colon and rectal cancers in young people. UPFs are most likely not the sole issue but a contributor along with other things that are now in our food that weren’t in the past.

        My friend was just one of those that developed such a cancer and died from it young.