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WHAT IS AN ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD?
People have been warning me of the evils of 'ultra-processed food' over the past few days.
But what does this term even mean? Let's take a look, in the context of my lovely, homemade packed lunch.
*Fingers crossed it passes the test*
People have been warning me of the evils of 'ultra-processed food' over the past few days.
But what does this term even mean? Let's take a look, in the context of my lovely, homemade packed lunch.
*Fingers crossed it passes the test*
The term 'ultra-processed' was recently coined in Brazil.
Those who coined what is being described as 'an alternative way of framing the debate', claim it's not really the nutrients & calories in foods that matter.
But how they happen to be prepped, packed & sold. (Yes, really)
Those who coined what is being described as 'an alternative way of framing the debate', claim it's not really the nutrients & calories in foods that matter.
But how they happen to be prepped, packed & sold. (Yes, really)
So how does my packed lunch of some homemade pasta salad and a sandwich stack up according to their criteria?
Well, ultra-process foods are 'formulations typically with 5 ingredients or more.'
Dammit! There's at least 5 ingredients in my pasta salad alone!
🍅🧀🥕🥦🥑
Well, ultra-process foods are 'formulations typically with 5 ingredients or more.'
Dammit! There's at least 5 ingredients in my pasta salad alone!
🍅🧀🥕🥦🥑
'Ingredients often include...sugar, fats, salt and antioxidants.'
Oh dear Lord, both my salad and sandwich contain all those things!
Can you think of many homemade meals that don't?
Oh dear Lord, both my salad and sandwich contain all those things!
Can you think of many homemade meals that don't?
'Ingredients only found in ultra-process products include..additives whose purpose is imitate sensory properties of [other] culinary preparations'
Why, why, why, did I make my own soda bread? The sodium bicarbonate that makes it rise like yeast puts it in this category.
Why, why, why, did I make my own soda bread? The sodium bicarbonate that makes it rise like yeast puts it in this category.
'Classes of additive only found in ultra processed foods include dyes and other colours, flavours and emulsifiers"
Damn this turmeric trend, that made me think dyeing the bread orange was a good idea! I really bloody hate the bread now...
Ditching the stupid, evil hippy bread!
Damn this turmeric trend, that made me think dyeing the bread orange was a good idea! I really bloody hate the bread now...
Ditching the stupid, evil hippy bread!
"Several industrial processes with no domestic equivalents are used in the manufacture of ultra-processed products, such as extrusion and moulding."
Chucking that pasta too!
Chucking that pasta too!
"Common attributes of ultra-processed products are hyper-palatability, sophisticated and attractive packaging"
Why did I spend effort to make it taste nice and put it in fancy tupperware??
Why did I spend effort to make it taste nice and put it in fancy tupperware??
"The main purpose of industrial ultra-processing is to create products that are ready to eat, to drink or to heat."
Oh, wait. So all packed lunches are out?
Oh, wait. So all packed lunches are out?
Tell you what...
How about I eat my lunch in peace, knowing that cultural labels really can be interpreted/misinterpreted however you like.
And it's the nutritional value of food (and the pleasure you get from it) that matters.
How about I eat my lunch in peace, knowing that cultural labels really can be interpreted/misinterpreted however you like.
And it's the nutritional value of food (and the pleasure you get from it) that matters.
