Uncertainty about the health risks of highly processed foods such as ice cream and hot dogs
2024.08.05 00:44
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Of course, fast food and junk food are not good.
It's just the result of an observational study...
Of course, additives themselves tend to be high in sugar or salt, which can be unhealthy, but we can't generalize that all ultra-processed foods are bad for health...
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Original viewSome experts have questioned the common belief that highly processed foods have a negative impact on health.
Most previous studies have only confirmed the risk of disease development associated with a diet high in ultra-processed foods, but have not specifically examined how food intake affects bodily mechanisms. It was also noted that the food processing involved in ultra-processed foods is not significantly different from the process of preparing ingredients at home. International food and nutrition experts conveyed this opinion to the BBC in the UK on the 29th.
Highly processed foods contain many artificial additives such as fats, sugars, and sodium, and refer to foods that have undergone multiple processing steps of raw ingredients. Typical examples include beverages, chocolates, candies, ice cream, instant soups, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and French fries. They are commonly called 'fast food' or 'junk food'.
In the academic community, studies have repeatedly shown that people who frequently consume ultra-processed foods have an increased risk of developing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and obesity, leading to ongoing warnings about the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Experts pointed out that most of these studies are observational. At the recent annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, a study was presented showing that among over 500,000 American adults, those who consumed ultra-processed foods at high levels had about a 10% higher risk of early death, which also falls under observational research.
Experts say that in order to accurately understand the impact of highly processed foods on health, it is necessary to examine how such foods are processed in the body.
For example, when the calorie and nutrient composition of a diet mainly consisting of ultra-processed foods is similar to that of a typical diet, it is explained that conducting a detailed analysis of the differences between people consuming each diet can be costly and labor-intensive.
There are also opinions that the effects of ultra-processed foods on the body need to be directly verified. It is necessary to confirm through scientific experiments how food additives contained in ultra-processed foods act on each human organ.
The head of nutrition and evidence-based medicine at Duan Meller Aston University in the UK emphasized, "Data cannot prove how specific foods affect individuals; it can only show potential benefits or risks."
He also pointed out that the definition of ultra-processed foods is unclear.
In the early 2010s, Carlos Monteiro, a professor at the University of São Paulo in Brazil, first introduced the term "ultra-processed foods." He developed a classification system that categorizes foods based on the complexity of their processing, including natural foods like beans and vegetables, processed ingredients such as butter, processed foods like tuna cans, and ultra-processed foods.
Gunter Kunle, a professor of nutrition and food science at Reading University in the UK, described this classification system as "ambiguous." These classification criteria are insufficient to be applied to the various foods produced in modern society where the food industry has advanced.
Experts also stated that there is no concrete evidence that the process of ultra-processed food production has a harmful effect on health.
Cutting, boiling, freezing, and other pre-processing methods used in processed foods are common cooking processes and are not harmful to health. On the contrary, some believe that large-scale processing by food companies makes food safer, extends shelf life, and helps reduce waste.
The stance of authorities in various countries is not much different from these experts' opinions. The Food Standards Agency, responsible for food safety in the UK, acknowledges research findings that people who frequently consume ultra-processed foods are at a higher risk of heart disease or cancer, but it has a policy of not taking any action until direct evidence emerges.
Experts advised that even before the specific effects of ultra-processed foods on the body are fully understood, it is advisable to develop a habit of reducing the intake of such foods. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans while reducing snacks high in fat and sugar is beneficial for health.
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