Studies call for a realignment of food policy.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are currently at the centre of health policy debates. The fight against UPFs is backed by a recently published three-part series of studies released in mid-November by the journal The Lancet. The series highlights that the increasing displacement of long-standing dietary habits by ultra-processed foods is a major contributor to the global rise in diet-related chronic diseases.

Sugar, fat, salt ...

The series examines the worldwide increase in ultra-processed foods and shows how their unbalanced nutrient composition is linked to a wide range of health conditions. These include excessive eating behaviour, driven by high energy density, intense palatability and soft texture; reduced intake of health-protective secondary plant compounds; and higher exposure to toxic substances, endocrine disruptors, and potentially harmful categories and combinations of food additives.

The central argument of the study series is that the expansion of ultra-processed foods is largely driven by global corporations that employ sophisticated political strategies to protect and maximise their profits. This is accompanied by a deterioration in dietary quality, posing an acute threat to public health. According to the authors, ultra-processed foods and access to fresh and minimally processed foods must therefore be fundamentally improved.

A new vision required

In the authors’ view, education and the hope that consumers will change their behaviour are not sufficient. A new vision is needed, along with a globally coordinated response to the interests of UPF-producing food companies. What is required is a return to a food system that strengthens local food producers, preserves cultural dietary traditions and generates economic benefits for local communities.

The end of evidence-based policy?

The backlash came promptly: the lobbying organisation FoodDrinkEurope, which represents major food manufacturers such as Unilever, Ferrero, Nestlé and PepsiCo, warned of “the end of evidence-based policy”. The studies, the organisation argued, oversimplify complex nutritional issues, risk confusing consumers, and undermine existing, effective public health measures.

High prices for harmful products strengthen prevention

Despite the dispute between science and industry, the idea of taxing unhealthy foods more heavily is gaining support. EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi intends to introduce higher taxation on UPFs as part of his cardiovascular health plan. The DSV supports strong price signals as a tool for health prevention. “The idea that taxes or price incentives can be used to nudge people is, in my opinion, absolutely welcome,” Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbrouke reaffirmed at the POLITICO Health Care Summit 2025, while also raising the question of how the resulting revenues could be used meaningfully.