I’m curious what definition they were using for what constitutes ‘ultra-processed’. This isn’t to take away from the study, I’ve been having a really hard time narrowing down what an ultra processed food actually is. Some studies class them as anything with a ‘non-EU GRAS’ in it, some define it by number of listed ingredients or processing steps, some of them use a definition so strict that even butter or pasteurized milk counts. I think its really important that were finally seeing what the health effects of our hyperprocessed diets are having on us, but I just wish that there was a broadly accepted definition so I didn’t have to look up the source study every single time to find out what they’re talking about.
The US federal loophole that allows food companies to decide what's safe for you to eat
Submitted 2 months ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to aboringdystopia@lemmy.world
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-fda-health-safety/
Comments
Warl0k3@lemmy.world 2 months ago
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
The article references another article that references this paper that gives the following definition with reference to this paper for this definition:
Ultra-processed foods are ready-to-eat/heat industrial formulations made mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods, including flavors, colors, texturizers, and other additives, with little if any intact whole food.1
UnrepentantAlgebra@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I wish every article that talks about “ultra-processed” foods would just link to the NOVA system or some other reference. Otherwise it just makes their statements seem so empty.
Zexks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That’s bread or really any seed derived foods.
booly@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
The NOVA system is bad science, in my opinion.
When asked to classify centuries-old staples like cheese or jam or bread or pickles, the experts struggle to find a consensus on which category any given food is. And so the classification system itself is so imprecisely defined that studies based on the system will rest on a shaky foundation.
It’s better to identify what specific foods and what specific cooking techniques are bad and how they might be bad, rather than trying to say that the act of chopping, blending, mixing, cooking, or fermentation automatically makes a food less healthy.
If certain additives are bad, say that those are bad. Don’t try to lump in the other processing techniques into one basket.
Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Great link, thanks.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I’d go with the amount of additives compared to the “real” thing.
Like basic bread is water, yeast, flour and salt.
If your bread has 20 ingredients - it’s ultra processed.
porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
That probably captures many such things but it’s not fool proof. I like to make bread with 2-4 different kinds of flour, 4-8 different kinds of seeds, a teaspoon or two of sugar to get the yeast going, sometimes milk or olive oil or another fat source. At it’s most complex it could get pretty close to 20 ingredients but I don’t feel that should be classified as ultra-processed. The kinds of ingredients used and the actual process also matters.
Suavevillain@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Corpos decide a ton in this country. I hope this loophole gets fixed.
orcrist@lemm.ee 2 months ago
You say loophole, I say feature, potato potato.
return2ozma@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The mini documentary in the article: youtu.be/r03hB_xk5xs
IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 2 months ago
People don’t want to eat healthy. Nearly every American has access to multiple farmer markets and grocery stores with cheap as fuck and diverse food.
They make a choice to buy easy to make garbage.
Unless you’re a single parent working 60 hours a week the responsibility is on the parent here. It’s easy to not be shitty and cook them a good meal.
cyborganism@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
That’s very much victim blaming in my opinion.
When you’re on a busy schedule because of work and don’t have a lot of free time, which is increasingly the case in today’s society, going to only one grocery store that’s closest to home is often the only option.
Not everyone has the luxury of having the free time to seek out farmers markets. Nor are these available everywhere.
The problem is this self regulation capitalist bullshit and a lack of government regulation with people’s well-being in mind.
IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I included grocery stores which have just as good selection and quality. Very few Americans don’t have access to inexpensive (relative to processed garbage) high quality food.
Yes I am blaming the people. There isn’t a victim. They have voluntarily choosen to skip inexpensive healthy food for convenience. It is their fault and no one else’s.
return2ozma@lemmy.world 2 months ago
How many food additives and substances have been approved in the US versus the EU
Image
Mr_Blott@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Ode To Joy intensifies