Regulate ultra-processed food to save lives and improve health
The EU must put health back in agriculture and food policies
Ahead of the European Commission publication of the EU Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food, EuroHealthNet calls for measures to reduce the consumption and omnipresent availability of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as a way to improve health throughout Europe.
The consumption of UPFs – food made with ingredients you would not find at home, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, modified starches, artificial sweeteners or flavour enhancers – is growing and increasingly impacts people’s health. Often high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats, UPFs are a key driver of obesity and are linked to a range of health conditions such as metabolic syndrome, inflammatory and diseases, cancer, as well as depression and mental disorders.
Europeans get an average of 27% of their daily calorie intake from UPFs, with some countries even reaching 44%. However, there are significant inequalities in UPF consumption within countries. As they are typically cheap and readily available in supermarkets and corner shops, their consumption is higher amongst people who have less or time to spend on healthy meals.
The Future of Agriculture and Food: put health back on the table
While ultra-processed foods are central to any public health debate, they have gradually disappeared from the discussion about EU agricultural policy, as crucial initiatives under the Farm to Fork strategy have stalled. Now, as the EU prepares its Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food, decision-makers must put health back on the table and put a halt to the overconsumption of UPFs.
"We need European action that reduces the availability of ultra-processed foods while simultaneously making minimally processed and healthy food accessible and affordable."
Samuele Tonello
Senior Research Coordinator at EuroHealthNet
EuroHealthNet calls on policymakers to ensure that the upcoming EU Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food draws on the work started by the Farm to Fork Strategy. This includes:
- Mandatory and uniform front-of-pack nutrition labelling across the EU.
- Require producers to improve products’ nutritional profile.
- Restricting marketing and advertising of UPFs, especially to children.
- Supporting high-quality food in public procurement, especially in school settings.
- Making healthier alternatives more accessible, e.g. by reducing VAT on fruits and vegetables.
- Addressing food deserts, where affordable, good-quality fresh food is not readily available
Too often, we have seen the food industries lobby to water down key actions and legislation in favour of self-regulation and voluntary commitments. It is crucial to introduce regulatory measures at EU level to limit the availability of UPFs and reduce their consumption.
"The overconsumption of UPFs is a symptom of a larger problem with our food system. Big players are making large profits at the expense of our health, and healthcare systems bear the costs. We need to drastically revisit our food system and make sure it delivers what it should: healthy food for everyone."
Caroline Costongs
Director of EuroHealthNet
Ultra-processed foods as a risk factor for health
EuroHealthNet’s latest Policy Précis, published today, dives into UPFs and their impact on health. It sets out EU-level initiatives to reduce the consumption of unhealthy food, improve access to healthy options, and provide better information to consumers.
The Policy Précis features practice examples from the United Kingdom, Slovenia, and the FEAST initiative and offers concrete recommendations for local, national, and EU-level actors.