{"id":496935,"date":"2026-05-22T05:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T05:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/496935\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T05:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T05:14:15","slug":"let-them-eat-junk-what-ultra-processed-foods-are-really-doing-to-our-childrens-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/496935\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Let them eat junk\u2019 \u2013 what ultra-processed foods are really doing to our children\u2019s health"},"content":{"rendered":"

There will have been a collective sigh of relief from cash-squeezed families<\/a> around the country at news that Rachel Reeves<\/a> is planning to cut food costs in a new batch of measures<\/a> aimed at easing the cost of living crisis<\/a> and the impact of the Iran war on the UK<\/a>. On the surface at least, the \u201cGreat British Summer Savings\u201d scheme is a well-meaning campaign designed to address the soaring food<\/a> prices and the astronomical shopping bills. <\/p>\n

However, with the list of food \u201cstaples\u201d set to be cut, including ultra-processed foods (UPFs) such as chocolate and biscuits<\/a>, many are saying this initiative could do more harm than good. And cost our children<\/a> dearly in the long run.<\/p>\n

Making cheap UPFs even more accessible<\/a> to people on a budget is not the answer, says Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at Tim Spector\u2019s Zoe initiative and nutrition lead at Imperial College School of Medicine. \u201cIt is good to see that the government is trying to do something, but from a science point of view the evidence is really clear: we need to be eating a more minimally processed diet high in wholegrains, nuts, seeds, pulses and legumes and omega 3 fatty acids and eat more oily fish.\u201d <\/p>\n

This is especially important in childhood. \u201cDifferent stages of childhood have different requirements when it comes to growth, the development of the immune system, and brain structure, but there is an overwhelming window of opportunity before the age of three and another important window of opportunity during puberty, which is the last growth spurt that humans have, when we can help to affect change and build a better body composition for children to become young adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NutritionistsNutritionists have hit out at the government\u2019s decision to cut the price of biscuits and chocolate (Local Library)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that very early in life, UPFs are impacting the formation of a baby\u2019s brains, their growth and early adiposity (fat mass),\u201d says Amati, whose book The Appetite Reset: How to Eat, Drink and Thrive Before, During and After GLP-1s is due out in June. \u201cWhen you have rapid adiposity in early life, you are more likely to develop diabetes, fatty liver disease \u2013 which is on the rise in children \u2013 and obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Childhood obesity<\/a> is already a major problem, with one in 10 children in reception living with obesity, according to the latest data from the National Child Measurement Programme<\/a> (NCMP). For 10 to 11-year-olds, the rate is now over a fifth.<\/p>\n

Nutritionists and health experts have long been warning that cheap and readily available UPFs are behind this health crisis. While Amati points out that not all UPFs are the same, she does note that it is specifically foods that are nutrient-lacking, like chocolate, biscuits, fruit drinks and fizzy drinks. \u201cThey contain lots of calories per bite or gulp, but very little in terms of nutrient density that contribute to the worst health outcomes,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

In a cost of living crisis, she says it would be far more beneficial for a government initiative to create access to foods that are usually out of reach for those on a tight budget \u2013 but are actually nutritious. <\/p>\n

\u201cSome people say: kids just won\u2019t eat healthy food but if we spent time and money reintroducing basic food skills in schools and access to fresh fruit and vegetables it would have a positive outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cA young growing body has pretty high nutritional requirements: the brain is still being built as well as the body itself. And if food delivers energy, but not nutrients, there is a risk of that energy being diverted to fat mass because unfortunately children are more sedentary these days.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"It\u2019sIt\u2019s important to separate some ultra-processed foods, like beans, from the more harmful culprits (Getty)<\/p>\n

Increased adiposity is linked to early puberty and the body\u2019s ability to remain insulin-sensitive. \u201cOne of the biggest risks in a nutrient-lacking diet for women under 24 is anaemia; around 40 per cent of women of that age are iron-deficient which can impact on immune function and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amati is keen to point out that the occasional sweet treat is not a problem. \u201cThis is not about never eating a biscuit again,\u201d she says. \u201cFor children eating a nutrient-dense diet, the odd biscuit does not matter because they are hitting nutrient goals\u201d. However, she adds, it’s more about the messaging we are giving around food and what we should be promoting as a staple versus an occasional treat: \u201cWe should be putting our efforts into exposing kids to the widest variety of whole foods as possible because they are much more likely to consume them.\u201d<\/p>\n

We need to facilitate an environment that is not obesogenic by improving access to wholefoods. If you look at France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, they put much more effort into aiding children\u2019s eating environments to be primarily whole foods. But it is also important to acknowledge some convenient foods are better for you than others.<\/p>\n

This is key, says Rob Hobson<\/a>, an award-winning nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Family Life<\/a>, which is aimed at families<\/a> \u2013 who are most vulnerable to the allure of these highly engineered foods. <\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019m sure the intention behind schemes like this is positive, because affordability is a huge issue for many families, but the key question is, what foods are we making cheaper<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rob Hobson, nutritionist and author<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we talk about UPFs, I would separate more nutritious UPFs, such as baked beans or simple tomato-based cooking sauces, from biscuits and chocolate. Baked beans may be classed as ultra-processed under some systems, but nutritionally, they are not the same thing. They provide fibre and plant protein and can be a genuinely useful budget food, especially with wholemeal toast or alongside vegetables and give some families a greater ability to eat well.\u201d <\/p>\n

However, with an average of 66 per cent of the UK\u2019s adolescents\u2019 daily intake now coming from UPFs, it is more important than ever that there is consistent messaging from the government about what we should and shouldn\u2019t be loading into our shopping trolleys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure the intention behind schemes like this is positive, because affordability is a huge issue for many families, but the key question is, what foods are we making cheaper, and what message does that send?\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

\u201cBiscuits and chocolate are already some of the cheapest and most accessible foods in the supermarket, so while any reduction in food costs may help household budgets, I would much rather see stronger support for the foods children and families are generally under-eating, such as fruit, vegetables, pulses, oats, potatoes, wholegrain bread, tinned fish, eggs, frozen vegetables, tinned tomatoes and other fibre-rich staples.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"RachelRachel Reeves announced she would slash import tariffs on \u2018staples\u2019 (Parliament TV)<\/p>\n

The data shows that even in the short-term, a diet heavily based around sugary and highly processed foods can affect appetite regulation, dental health, energy levels, bowel habits and overall diet quality. Diets high in UPFs are also often lower in fibre and plant diversity. <\/p>\n

\u201cFibre is important for gut health because bacteria ferment it into short-chain fatty acids, which help support the gut lining, immune function\u201d, says Hobson. \u201cSo when children eat fewer fibre-rich foods, there is simply less fuel for those beneficial bacteria. The goal should be reducing reliance on the least nutritious UPFs and building better everyday habits.\u201d <\/p>\n

A realistic approach could, he says, involve including some healthier UPFs to make mealtimes easier and healthier meals more accessible \u2013 think bolognese made with a cook-in sauce. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the goal should be perfection, and that message is not helpful for parents,\u201d says Hobson, who points out that a healthy child\u2019s diet can include tinned, frozen and packaged foods. Small changes, Hobson suggests, are swapping sugary cereal for porridge or a lower-sugar cereal with fruit, replacing everyday biscuits after school with toast and peanut butter, yoghurt with fruit, or hummus and pitta. It could also mean adding beans, lentils or frozen vegetables into pasta sauces, keeping fruit visible and easy to grab instead of biscuits and sweet snacks. <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of this comes down to what is in the cupboard and what feels normal at home. Children eat what is available, familiar and easy so if we want better habits, we need to make the healthier option the convenient option.\u201d <\/p>\n

Dr Dolly van Tulleken is a visiting researcher at Cambridge University’s MRC Epidemiology Unit where she completed her PhD on UK government obesity policy, and is the founder of Dolitics, a policy consultancy focused on driving policy change.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the evidence linking UPFs and the health harms to children are out there from the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety as well as attention issues and antisocial behaviour in children,\u201d says van Tulleken. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo while the tariff cut sounds good if it is on products like biscuits and chocolate we risk ending up with an even greater tax bill when dealing with the health consequences that these foods can cause; it is a false economy to cut costs in one place which drive up the financial burden of dealing with the health consequences down the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

A lot of this comes down to what is in the cupboard and what feels normal at home. Children eat what is available, familiar and easy so if we want better habits, we need to make the healthier option the convenient option<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rob Hobson<\/p>\n

She points to charity initiatives that are boosting food education. \u201cTrying to feed healthy food to fussy kids who are used to eating UPF can be a challenge. Taste Ed, a charity founded by Bee Wilson, is a parent\u2019s best friend: they do trial taste experiences of fruit and veg in primary schools which makes children more familiar with fruit and vegetables and more open to eating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course all of these initiatives need funding; something that Van Tulleken believes would be made possible by an even stronger extension on the soft drinks industry levy, which the government has already pledged to do. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would suggest something much stronger than on one single product \u2013 either Henry Dimbleby\u2019s proposed sugar and salt tax, or a UPF food tax like the one introduced in Colombia,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe soft drinks levy is one of the most successful public health policies to date \u2013 we have proof of that. So this is a perfect opportunity to extend that in a way that is aligned with the government food strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

By making food like biscuits even more accessible than they already are, it risks not only sending the wrong message about UPFs but, she says, \u201chaving a potentially terrible knock-on effect on increased NHS spending on future health issues.\u201d <\/p>\n

Something which we will all end up paying for in the end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There will have been a collective sigh of relief from cash-squeezed families around the country at news that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":496936,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[277],"tags":[106855,77837,27125,2190,179,18,77838,518,216361,135,216362,789,19,202689,17,10140,3119,508,432,3439,38558,797,2613,17925,1294],"class_list":["post-496935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-baked-beans","tag-business-finance-and-industry","tag-color-image","tag-cost-of-living","tag-economy","tag-eire","tag-finance-and-economy","tag-food","tag-for-sale-phrase","tag-health","tag-heinz","tag-horizontal","tag-ie","tag-inflation-economics","tag-ireland","tag-merchandise","tag-new","tag-nutrition","tag-photography","tag-retail","tag-setting","tag-shopping","tag-store","tag-supermarket","tag-uk"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116616526121605107","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/496936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=496935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}