DEBATE • My grandfather was a teacher and my mother started her teaching career 70 years ago. They had their own classes with maybe 25-28 students. It worked just fine without any help. But today, according to the Swedish Teachers’ Union, teachers are forced to rush between more and more adaptations with less time for the main group. A growing problem is also disruption in schools. What has happened in 70 years?
Well, students were healthier 70 years ago. According to a study, the consumption of ultra-processed ingredients from 1960 – 2010 increased by a whopping 142%. Ultra-processed ingredients are substances in food products such as emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners like maltodextrin, modified starch, flavor enhancers like glutamate, color, aroma, thickeners, surface treatment agents, and so on.
Natural Ingredients Becoming Scarcer
It is the major food producers who have replaced natural ingredients with modified, nutrient-poor substances to reduce costs and increase profits. According to nutrition expert John Robbins, USA, major food companies can hire special “craveability” experts to develop new food products with ultra-processed ingredients in order to create happiness during consumption, which increases sales.
However, in his book “Ultra-processed People Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop?”, doctor Chris van Tulleken presents a long series of research studies which, according to him, indicate a connection between ultra-processed ingredients and ill health.
Ill Health Linked to Ultra-processed Food Content
Substances like emulsifiers and maltodextrin can increase the risk of inflammation in the intestines, reduce the mucus layer on the intestinal walls, which increases the risk of bacteria and other substances passing through the intestinal wall and into the body. Additionally, they can cause impaired gut flora and increased risk of overweight. According to Chris van Tulleken, the latter is due to low-energy sweeteners tricking the body into eating more of other food to gain energy.
Doctor and associate professor Staffan Lindeberg’s research study on Kitava, Papua New Guinea, where they consume an original diet without ultra-processed ingredients, can be used for comparison. The population is healthy without most of our Western diseases. Lindeberg noted no cancer, no diabetes, and no mental illness, and so on.
Children who eat candy are at high risk
In addition, there is the large research compilation with 9.8 million participants published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal), where higher consumption of ultra-processed food products was found to be associated with a higher risk of anxiety and mental illness, as well as increased risk of type 2 diabetes and more. The researchers write that the results support urgent public health measures.
Today’s grocery stores may have entire walls of candy, which usually contain ultra-processed ingredients. And there stands the future – the children – with a bag, indulging. Vegan ready meals are something that many may choose for their health. But if you read the ingredient list, there are often several ultra-processed ingredients.
Weak interest from Swedish food giants
I asked the consumer cooperative if they have a strategy to reduce ultra-processed substances. They do not, but they will “take the suggestion with them”. ICA did not even respond.
But it is easy to just turn the packaging and read the ingredient list. And if there is something that you do not have at home in the kitchen, it is preferable to choose something else, preferably organic without pesticides.
Taken more seriously in other countries
Imported non-organic fruit is often heavily sprayed, especially bananas. A pesticide may be within the limit, but the long-term health effects of a cocktail of poisons are unknown. Doctor Michael Klaper, USA, emphasizes that every bite matters. So it is never too late to strengthen your health.
Chris van Tulleken compares ultra-processed substances to addictive smoking. In countries such as Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Peru, and Uruguay, the advice is to avoid or at least reduce ultra-processed products. Several countries have introduced a black octagon on food products with ultra-processed substances. Brazil and other Latin American countries as well as countries in Asia have introduced that no more than 20% of school meal purchases may contain ultra-processed ingredients.
Ingemar Östlund
Student of Public Health
References:
• van Tulleken, Chris (2023/2024) “Ultra-Processed People Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop?” Great Britain: Penguin books.
• Lane, M Melissa et al. (2024) “Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analysis”. BMJ 2024;384:e077310 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077310)
• Lindeberg, Staffan (2003) “Maten och folksjukdomarna – ett evolutionsmedicinskt perspektiv”. Lund: Studentlitteratur
• Lindeberg, Staffan (2009) “Food and Western Disease – Health and nutrition from an evolutionary perspective”. ISBN: 9781405197717.