In the UK, 60% of our calories on average come from ultra processed foods. If a food is wrapped in plastic and contains at least one ingredient that you don't typically find in a domestic kitchen, then it's ultra processed. Ultra processed people: Why do we all eat stuff that isn't food? And why can't we stop?
Sliced supermarket bread, ham, cheese, crisps, a fruit-flavoured yoghurt and a fizzy drink. If this sounds like a standard lunch, you’re not alone. The average person in the UK gets more than 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods – otherwise known as ‘industrially produced edible substances’. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Chris van Tulleken about what ultra-processed foods are really made of, how they have become a major part of our diets, and the impact they are having on our health. Help support our independent journalism at
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