Thread by @LLLGB

.@SibsonVicky Director of @1stepsnutrition is speaking now about The ultra-processing of the diets of babies and young children in the UK: Why it matters and what should be done about it. Will talk about #UltraProcessedFoods #UPF #bfconf

.@vickysibson: #NOVAClassification for foods featuring categories for raw & minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods and ultraprocesed foods and drink. The latter category includes all infant milks #bfconf

Ultra processed foods definition captures far more foods than just "junk" or high in fat, salt, sugar aka HFSS foods from UK govt's nutrient profiling model (NPM) #bfconf

@SibsonVicky: UPF consumption is associatied with less healthy dietary intake. UPFs tend to have higher energy, fat, sugar & sodium conent and lower fibre content than unprocessed and minimally processed foods #bfconf

@SibsonVicky: negative health & nutrition implications independent of nutrient profile. People tend to eat more on higher UPF diets. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31105044/ and snack more #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: UPF consumption in infancy & early childhood promotes snacking (unnecesary under 1) & overconsumption, replaces unprocessed & minimally processed foods (incl breastmilk), undermines optimal feeding habits during complementary feeding period #bfconf

.@SibsonVicky: UPF can contain additieves associated with negative health outcomes and can be packaged in plastics which contain endocrine disrupting chemicals #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: 25% of babies born in England in June 2022 were fed formula at birth. In 2010 66% of babies in England were exclusively formula fed at 6 mos. In 2011 about 2/3 of 10-12 month olds were given commercial baby foods #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: UK Eatwell Guide makes no distinction about UPFs though it does feature images of whole foods nhs.uk/live-well/eat-… #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: 12 countries refer to UPFs in their national dietary guidance. Brazil: "Eat real food, together" Belgium: "Ultra-processed foods have no real added value in a healthy and environmentally responsible diet" #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: Recommendations to "break the UPF cycle" in UK Policy: bring national dietary guidelines in line with latest evidence on UPFs, create an environment that enables infants & young children to be fed in line with national dietary guidelines (ie. regulation)... #bfconf

@SibsonVicky .@SibsonVicky: recommendations cont.: create a long-term shift in food env that enables infants & young children to be sustainably fed in line with national dietary guidelines, conduct further research to better understand impacts of high UPF diets to inform policy & practice