They make up 57% of the UK diet – and the risks are becoming ever more evident. Here is how to recognise UPFs and find healthier alternatives
Almost all food is processed to some extent. Even if you cook from scratch, you probably use, say, flour, olive oil and tinned tomatoes, none of which are in their raw states. But ultra-processed food (UPF) is very different. It contains industrial substances that you won’t find in your kitchen, along with additives to make them taste good. In his bestselling book, Ultra-Processed People, Chris van Tulleken quotes the Brazilian scientist Fernanda Rauber as saying: “Most UPF is not food. It’s an industrially produced edible substance.”
