Soil Association calls on Government to make minimally processed foods more accessible
A new diet study shows that Government healthy eating advice must ‘catch-up’ with the latest science and warn people against ultra-processed diets. Researchers at UCL found that when given nutritionally matched diets, participants lost twice as much weight eating minimally processed foods compared to ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
This study comes only a few months after a Soil Association investigation found that the previous Government U-turned on plans to back minimally processed foods after months of persistent lobbying by the food manufacturing sector.
Rob Percival, head of food policy at the Soil Association, commented: “This is the most rigorous study of ultra-processed diets ever conducted, and it shows that processing really does matter for health. For decades, the UK Government’s ‘healthy eating’ guidelines have neglected processing, assuming that whole foods and ultra-processed products might deliver the same health outcomes.
“We now know that to be false. A minimally processed diet is better for your health. You cannot replicate the benefits of whole foods in an industrial manufacturing facility – nature knows better. Our Government must catch up. Its so-called ‘Eatwell Guide’ should be updated to promote healthy, minimally processed foods, and to warn against ultra-processed diets, or else it risks becoming a ‘Eat Badly Guide’.
“The Government must use its Food Strategy to make it easy for everyone to access and enjoy more minimally processed produce. This will require that they support more ethical food businesses and listen to the 20,000 people who have backed our current campaign calling on them to resist the pressure of the ultra-processed food lobby.
“This new Government has an opportunity to do things differently and stop allowing Government policy to be shaped by those who selfishly put corporate profits before public health. It’s time for a new approach.”