To assess the consumption of ultra-processed foods and its association with the overall dietary content of nutrients related to non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the Chilean diet and to estimate the ...population attributable fraction of ultra-processed food consumption on the unhealthy nutrient content.
Cross-sectional analysis of dietary data collected through a national survey (2010).
Chile.
Chilean population aged ≥2 years (n 4920).
In Chile, ultra-processed foods represented 28·6 % of the total energy intake. A significant positive association was found between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and NCD-promoting nutrients such as dietary energy density (standardised regression coefficient (β) = 0·22), content of free sugars (β = 0·45), total fats (β = 0·26), saturated fats (β = 0·19), trans fats (β = 0·09) and Na:K ratio (β = 0·04), while a significant negative association was found with the content of NCD-protective nutrients such as K (β = -0·19) and fibre (β = -0·31). The content of Na (β = 0·02) presented no significant association. Except for Na, the prevalence of inadequate intake of all nutrients (WHO recommendations) increased across quintiles of the dietary share of ultra-processed foods. With the reduction of ultra-processed foods consumption to the level seen among the 20 % lowest consumers (3·8 % (0-9·3 %) of the total energy from ultra-processed foods), the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy would be reduced in almost three-fourths for trans fats; in half for energy density (foods); in around one-third for saturated fats, energy density (beverages), free sugars and total fats; in near 20 % for fibre and Na:K ratio and in 13 % for K.
In Chile, decreasing the consumption of ultra-processed foods is a potentially effective way to achieve the WHO nutrient goals for the prevention of diet-related NCD.
Summary
Background
There is cumulative recognition that increases in the dietary share of ultra‐processed foods result in deterioration of the nutritional quality of the overall diet and adverse ...health outcomes.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to assess the consumption of ultra‐processed foods and to examine its association with added sugar content in the diet of US children aged 2 to 19 years.
Methods
We classified all food items according to the NOVA food classification system and looked at the consumption of ultra‐processed foods, measured as percentage of total energy intake. We assessed dietary added sugar content by estimating its contribution to total energy intake and the proportion of individuals with diets exceeding the recommended limit of 10% of total energy intake from added sugars. We also examined the proportion of those who surpassed twice that limit. Gaussian and Poisson regressions estimated the association between consumption of ultra‐processed foods and estimates of added sugar content.
Results
Ultra‐processed foods contributed to 65% of total energy intake and to 92% of energy from added sugars in the diet of US children. The mean percent energy provided by added sugars in the observed period was 14.3%. Most individuals (70.9%) had diets exceeding the recommended limit of added sugar (<10% of total energy intake), and 18.4% of the population had diets surpassing twice the recommended level (20% of total energy intake). A 5.5% point increase in the dietary share of ultra‐processed foods determined a 1 percentage point increase in the dietary content of added sugars, with stronger adjusted associations among younger children.
Conclusions
Public health efforts to reduce added sugars in the diet of US children must put greater emphasis on decreasing the consumption of ultra‐processed foods.
The positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on healthy living are widely known, while the health effects of religious fasting have received increased attention during the last decade. However, no ...study has focused on the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in such populations. Therefore, our aim was to investigate UPF intake and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Christian Orthodox church (COC) religious fasting population in Greece. In this cross-sectional study, 400 individuals who follow the Mediterranean diet were included, stratified as COC fasters and non-fasters. Dietary intake data were collected via three 24 h diet recalls and a monthly food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The NOVA food classification system was used to identify the level of processing and categorize all food items. Fasters consumed significantly less chicken, turkey, and beef and significantly more seafood, fish, snails, soy products, and fresh fruits, in terms of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, as well as significantly more fried potatoes and olives in terms of processed foods when compared with non-fasters. Regarding UPFs, a significantly lower intake of pork sausages, ketchup, and mustard as well as a significantly higher consumption of margarine and tarama dip were recorded in fasters compared with non-fasters. Fasters with MetS more frequently consumed UPFs (such as cheese pastries, biscuits, and cakes) than fasters without MetS (
< 0.05 for all comparisons). Similarly, non-fasters with MetS had an increased intake of UPFs (such as Cypriot bread and Coco Pops breakfast cereals) than non-fasters without MetS. Future research should focus on UPF consumption and its associations with clinical outcomes in such populations, thus providing further data for the potential health effects of COC fasting.
Summary
Background
The consumption of ultra‐processed foods (UPFs) is associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases and mortality in adults. The aim of this study was to analyse the ...association between mealtime television (TV) watching and UPF consumption in childhood.
Materials and Methods
Participants in the SENDO project recruited in 2015–2023 were classified into three categories based on the frequency at which they watched TV during meals. Dietary information was collected with a validated 147‐item semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Generalized mixed models were used to compare mean UPF consumption between groups after accounting for the main confounders. The predictive margins of participants who had a free sugar intake >10% of their energy intake in each category were also calculated.
Results
Totally 970 subjects (482 girls) with a mean age of 5.00 years (SD = 0.85) were studied. Children who watched TV during meals ≥4 times/week consumed a mean of 4.67% more energy from UPF than those who watch TV <3 times/month. The adjusted proportions of children who had a free sugar intake >10% of their energy intake in the categories of <3 times/month, 1–3 times/week and ≥4 times/week exposure to TV during meals were 44.9%, 45.9% and 58.7%, respectively.
Conclusion
TV watching during meals is associated with higher consumption of UPFs and a higher risk of exceeding 10% of TEI in free sugar intake in childhood.
Although commercial entities can contribute positively to health and society there is growing evidence that the products and practices of some commercial actors—notably the largest transnational ...corporations—are responsible for escalating rates of avoidable ill health, planetary damage, and social and health inequity; these problems are increasingly referred to as the commercial determinants of health. The climate emergency, the non-communicable disease epidemic, and that just four industry sectors (ie, tobacco, ultra-processed food, fossil fuel, and alcohol) already account for at least a third of global deaths illustrate the scale and huge economic cost of the problem. This paper, the first in a Series on the commercial determinants of health, explains how the shift towards market fundamentalism and increasingly powerful transnational corporations has created a pathological system in which commercial actors are increasingly enabled to cause harm and externalise the costs of doing so. Consequently, as harms to human and planetary health increase, commercial sector wealth and power increase, whereas the countervailing forces having to meet these costs (notably individuals, governments, and civil society organisations) become correspondingly impoverished and disempowered or captured by commercial interests. This power imbalance leads to policy inertia; although many policy solutions are available, they are not being implemented. Health harms are escalating, leaving health-care systems increasingly unable to cope. Governments can and must act to improve, rather than continue to threaten, the wellbeing of future generations, development, and economic growth.
Processed ready-to-eat Beshiru, Abeni; Okoh, Anthony I; Igbinosa, Etinosa O
PloS one,
04/2022, Volume:
17, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The study aimed to recover diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains from processed ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Yenagoa, Nigeria and characterize them using culture-based and molecular methods. Three ...hundred RTE food samples were collected randomly from different food outlets between February 2021 and August 2021 and assessed for the occurrence of E. coli using standard bacteriological procedures. The virulence factor formation and antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates was carried out using standard microbiological procedures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the identity of the isolates via specific primers and further used to assay the diarrheagenic determinants of the E. coli isolates. The prevalence of E. coli positive samples based on the proliferation of E. coli on Chromocult coliform agar forming purple to violet colonies was 80(26.7%). The population density of E. coli from the RTE foods ranged from 0-4.3 x 10.sup.4 ± 1.47 CFU/g. The recovered E. coli isolates (n = 62) were resistant to antibiotics in different proportions such as ampicillin 62(100%), aztreonam 47(75.81%) and chloramphenicol 43(69.35%). All the recovered E. coli isolates were resistant to greater than or equal to 2 antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic-resistant index (MARI) ranged from 0.13-0.94 with 47(75.8%) of isolates having MARI >2. A total of 48(77.4%) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The proportion of extracellular virulence factor formation is as follows: protease 12(19.35%), curli 39(62.9%), cellulose 21(33.89%), ornithine decarboxylase 19(30.65%) and aesculin hydrolysis 14(22.58%). The overall proportion of diarrheagenic E. coli was 33/62(53.2%). The distributions of typical diarrheagenic E. coli includes: tETEC 9(14.5%), tEPEC 13(20.9%), tEAEC 6(9.7%), tEIEC 2(3.2%) and tEHEC 3(4.8%). The proportions of atypical strains include aETEC 10(16.1%), aEAEC 5(8.1%), aEPEC 1(1.6%) and aEIEC 3(4.8%). This study demonstrated that some RTE foods sold in Yenagoa, Nigeria, are contaminated and constitute a probable human health hazard. Thus, there is a need for intensive surveillance of this isolate in RTE foods variety to spot evolving AMR phenotypes and avert food-borne infections.
There has been a growing body of literature published on ultra-processed foods (UPF). This has been driven by an ambiguous definition that can be easily applied to observational work. Nutritionally, ...UPF have been given the umbrella label of being “energy-dense, high in unhealthy types of fat, free sugars and salt, and poor sources of protein, dietary fibre and micronutrients” (Monteiro et al., 2018). Unfortunately, such overarching statements are imprecise and not necessarily reflective of all modern food products.
This commentary evaluates the NOVA classification system and includes an analysis of 50 foods falling under its definition of being ‘ultra-processed’ yet classified as ‘healthy’ according to the UK Nutrient Profiling Model. Nutritional profiles were also compared against European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 Nutrition Claims.
No statistically significant correlations were found between the number of ingredients and energy, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium, AOAC fibre and protein. The majority of UPFs identified were low in saturated fat (84 percent), low in sugar (80 percent) and a source of fibre (60 percent). Thirty eight percent were low salt and 30 percent a source of protein.
Based on the findings of this commentary it is suggested that rigorous nutritional analyses should be conducted alongside ‘processing loads’. Overarching and tautological definitions could lead to the public avoiding all UPFs and have unintended consequences such as fibre and micronutrient shortfalls.
•UPFs have been gaining interest, particularly from a health stance.•Categorization systems tend to focus on ‘processing levels’ and overlook nutritional profiles.•UPFs (those with 5 + ingredients) have been labelled as ‘nutritional demons’.•There are always exceptions and some UPFs may have a functional role to play in health.
Background
The present study aimed to investigate the type and timing of ultra‐processed foods (UPF) consumption and its association with dietary intake (DI) and physical activity (PA) in women with ...obesity living in poverty.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was employed. Obesity was defined by at least two criteria (body mass index, waist circumference or % fat mass). Poverty was defined as the three lowest classes of the Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion. PA was measured with triaxial accelerometers and DI was assessed with three 24‐h dietary recalls. Foods were categorised according to the NOVA classification, with UPF classified into five subgroups, as well as the timing of consumption into six meals.
Results
In total, 56 adult women were included. Overall energy intake was 1653.21 (503.22) kcal/day. UPF intake was 21.62% (11.94%) kcal/day, being higher at breakfast (4.91% kcal/day), afternoon snack (5.39% kcal/day) and dinner (5.01% kcal/day). Only UPF subgroup 4 (sandwich biscuits, sweets, or treats) showed a positive association with energy intake (β = 54.40 27.6, 81.10 kcal/day) and a negative association with protein intake (β = −0.31% −0.48%, −0.14% kcal/day). UPF consumption in morning (β = −0.41% −0.79%, −0.02% kcal/day) and afternoon (β = −0.18% −0.33%, −0.04% kcal/day) snacks was associated with lower protein intake. Furthermore, lunchtime UPF consumption was positively associated with walking time (β = 0.16% 0.02%; 0.30%) and steps/hour (β = 8.72 1.50; 15.94 steps/h).
Conclusions
Women with obesity living in poverty consume more UPF during breakfast, afternoon snack and dinner. Physical activity is positively associated with UPF consumption at lunch. UPF, such as sandwich biscuits, sweets or treats, contribute to increasing energy intake and reducing protein intake.
Women with obesity living in poverty consume more ultra‐processed food (UPF) during main meals, especially at breakfast and dinner compared to snacks. Greater walking time is related to higher UFP consumption at lunch. UFP consumption, especially sandwich biscuits, sweets or treats, contributes to a higher energy and lower daily protein intake.
Key points
The distribution of ultra‐processed foods (UPF) consumption throughout the day was evaluated.
UPF were more consumed during main meals compared to snacks.
Only sandwich biscuits, sweets and treats were associated with increased energy intake and reduced protein intake.
Physical activity measured by triaxial accelerometers was associated with UPF consumption at lunch.
This cross-sectional study assessed highly processed food (HPF) consumption and its association with individual characteristics in a nationwide sample of Japanese adults. Eight-day weighed dietary ...records were obtained from 2742 free-living adults aged 18-79 years across Japan. HPFs were identified based on a classification method developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The basic characteristics of the participants were assessed using a questionnaire. On average, HPF contributed to 27.9% of daily energy intake. The contribution of HPF to the daily intake of 31 nutrients ranged from 5.7% for vitamin C to 99.8% for alcohol (median, 19.9%). Cereals and starchy foods were the main food groups that contributed to the total energy intake of HPF. Multiple regression analysis showed that the older group (60-79 years) had a lower HPF energy contribution than the younger group (18-39 y) (regression coefficient (β) = -3.55,
< 0.0001). Compared to current smokers, past and never-smokers had lower HPF energy contributions (β = -1.41,
< 0.02; and -4.20,
< 0.0001, respectively). In conclusion, HPFs account for approximately one-third of energy intake in Japan. Younger age and current smoking status should be considered in future intervention strategies to reduce HPF consumption.
