The Global Surge of "Ultra-Processed Foods" is Undermining Human Health: An Urgent Warning from The Lancet

1. What Are "Ultra-Processed Foods"? — Understanding "Food as Industrial Products" Through the NOVA Classification

First, let's clarify what "ultra-processed foods (UPF)" are.

The definition of UPF is based on a framework called the "NOVA classification," proposed by Professor Carlos Monteiro and his colleagues in Brazil.ScienceDaily+1

In NOVA, foods are broadly divided into four groups.

1. Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods (Group 1)
   Vegetables, fruits, unrefined grains, legumes, eggs, fresh meat, and fish. These are ingredients recognizable in their original form, intended for home cooking.
   
   

2. Processed Culinary Ingredients (Group 2)
   Sugar, oil, salt, butter, etc. These are "ingredients" used to cook Group 1 foods.
   
   

3. Processed Foods (Group 3)
   Simple bread, cheese, canned vegetables, traditional pickles, etc. These are relatively simple processed products made with a few ingredients and salt or sugar.
   
   

4. Ultra-Processed Foods (Group 4: UPF)
   This is the category of foods currently under scrutiny.

Typical examples of UPF include the following:ScienceDaily+1

• Carbonated drinks, energy drinks, sweet soft drinks

• Snack foods, chocolate bars, candies

• Instant noodles, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries

• Pastries, sweet cereals, sugar-laden cereal bars

• Ham, sausages, hot dogs, and some highly processed meats

The common characteristics of these are:

• Cheap raw materials (vegetable oils, starches, sugars, protein isolates, etc.)

• Numerous "cosmetic" additives (colorings, flavorings, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, etc.)

• Long shelf life, mass production, flashy taste and appearance

These features make them **"industrial products that cannot be made in a home kitchen."**ScienceDaily+1

2. What Is Happening Worldwide? — UPF Is Becoming the "New Staple"

According to ScienceDaily articles and a series of papers in The Lancet, UPF has rapidly spread worldwide over the past few decades.ScienceDaily+1

Summarizing dietary surveys from various countries,

• Spain
  In the past 30 years, the proportion of UPF in total energy intake has increased from
  11% → 32%, nearly tripling.ScienceDaily
  
  

• China
  Similarly, over about 30 years, it has increased from
  4% → 10%, still low but rising sharply.ScienceDaily
  
  

• Mexico and Brazil
  Over the past 40 years, it has more than doubled from
  10% → 23%.ScienceDaily+1
  
  

• United States and United Kingdom
  For over 20 years,more than 50% of calorie intake has been from UPF, with a slight upward trend.ScienceDaily+1

Especially among younger and lower-income groups, the UPF ratio is even higher, with cases where UPF constitutes almost the entire diet not uncommon. In response, researchers warn that this is "a seed for a global public health crisis."The Guardian+1

Japan Is Still "Better," but Not Safe

Detailed NOVA-based statistics for Japan are not included in this series, but

• Convenience store bento and ready-to-eat meals

• Pastries and snack foods

• Sandwiches with processed meats, retort curry

• Soft drinks and energy drinks

Foods equivalent to UPF are ubiquitous.

Thanks to the culture of Japanese cuisine and home-cooked meals, it is presumed that UPF dependency has not progressed as much as in the US and UK at present. However, if the style of "settling for convenience stores and fast food when busy" becomes established, Japan may follow the same path.
**"When busy, settle for convenience stores and fast food"**

3. 92 Out of 104 Studies — "Almost All" Report Increased Health Risks

The first paper in The Lancet series comprehensively reviews studies conducted since the NOVA classification was proposed in 2009.The Lancet+1

In summary,

• Among thelong-term studies: 104

• In 92 of these, the higher the UPF intake, the more

  • Obesity

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Cardiovascular diseases

  • Certain cancers

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Early death (all-cause mortality)

were observed, indicating an increased risk of at least one health issue.ScienceDaily+1

This review repeatedly confirms the following "patterns," including meta-analyses:

• For every 10% increase in the proportion of UPF in the diet, the risks of obesity, heart disease, cancer, etc., significantly increase

• The group with the highest UPF intake has a clearly higher risk of early death compared to the group with the lowest intake

• Links to mental health and cognitive function are also noted, with reports of depressive symptoms, declines in thinking and memory, and increased stroke riskVerywell Health+1

Since many studies are observational, it is not possible to definitively state that "UPF directly causes ○○."

Nonetheless,

• The number of studies is large

• Similar trends are observed across different countries and cultures

• The linear relationship of "the more you consume, the more the risk increases in a stepwise manner" frequently appears

From these points, experts evaluate

"There is strong enough evidence to take action."

ScienceDaily+1

4. Why Is UPF So Dangerous? — Reasons Beyond Just Calories

The issue with UPF is not simply that they are "high in calories" or "contain a lot of sugar and fat." The Lancet series and related reports explain that multiple factors are intertwined.ScienceDaily+1

(1) Designed to Be "Irresistible"

Many UPFs are

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