In countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, ultra-processed foods now account for 50 percent or more of calories consumed.
This is concerning, given that these foods have been linked to a number of different health conditions, including a greater risk of obesity and various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and dementia.
Ultra-processed foods are concoctions of various industrial ingredients (such as emulsifiers, thickeners, and artificial flavors), amalgamated into food products by a series of manufacturing processes.
Sugary drinks and many breakfast cereals are ultra-processed foods, as are more recent innovations, such as so-called plant-based burgers, typically made of protein isolates and other chemicals to make the products palatable….