The War on Ultra-Processed Foods: Scientific Scrutiny or Moral Panic?
By
Gary Taubes
Summary
This article critically examines the growing public panic and scientific debate around "ultra-processed foods" (UPFs). It explores a recent study showing that over two-thirds of Americans now view UPFs as addictive and a major cause of chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The piece questions whether the war on UPFs makes scientific sense, digging into the NOVA classification system, the quality of evidence linking processing to health outcomes, and whether the term "ultra-processed" is a meaningful scientific category or a misleading catch-all. It presents counterarguments from food scientists and nutrition researchers who caution against oversimplifying a complex issue.
Source
Twitter / XThe War on Ultra-Processed Foods: Scientific Scrutiny or Moral Panic?theatlantic.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledMore than two-thirds of those surveyed now regard the industrially produced, ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, that dominate the U.S. food supply as addictive, according to a study published earlier this month in the American Journal of Public Health.
Most respondents said that UPFs are a major source of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
At least one-third blame these foods for causing cancer, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
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