Environmental implications of ultra-processed foods

Date:
November 11, 2021
Source:
City University London
Summary:
A new study finds that over the last 30 years, Brazil has undergone
a nutrition transition toward a diet higher in ultra-processed
foods, and that of food types consumed, these have been the largest
contributor to worsening impacts on greenhouse gas emissions,
the nation's water footprint and ecological footprint, such as
deforestation.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study finds that over the last 30 years, Brazil has undergone
a nutrition transition toward a diet higher in ultra-processed foods,
and that of food types consumed, these have been the largest contributor
to worsening impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, the nation's water
footprint and ecological footprint, such as deforestation.


========================================================================== Ultra-processed foods include reconstituted meat products, such as
sausages; ready meals; margarines; sweets; soft drinks; and other foods
which contain artificial additives like sweeteners and flavours.

Whilst the negative effects of high consumption of ultra-processed
foods on health have been outlined for over a decade -- including links
with obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer -- there had previously been very little understanding of its effects on the planet.

Experts argue that Britain went through a similar nutrition transition
over the last 100 years, and warn that as the economies of more countries
grow, so will the trend in the consumption of ultra-processed foods,
which could adversely affect their ability to meet climate change targets.

Published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, the study is the
first of its kind to use nationally representative data over such a long time-frame to demonstrate how changes in a nation's diet can affect its contribution to climate change.

The international collaboration of authors, including from the University
of Sa~o Paulo, Brazil; City, University of London; the University of Manchester; Brunel University London; and the University of Sheffield
used household budget survey data taken from urban Brazilian households
between 1987 to 2018.



==========================================================================
They calculated the environmental impact of food items purchased,
per 1,000 calories (kcal) consumed, for four food groups outlined by
the widely used NOVA system: unprocessed/minimally processed foods
(G1); processed culinary ingredients (G2); processed foods (G3); and ultra-processed foods (G4).

The study found that while the proportion of G1 and G2 foods in the
households' diet had decreased, the amount of G3 and G4 foods consumed
had increased. It found that the increasing environmental impact of G4
foods was driven by an increase in consumption of ultra-processed meat,
which at least doubled its contribution to daily environmental impacts per individual, reaching about 20 per cent of total diet-related footprints
over the 30-year time-frame.

Per 1,000 calories consumed, these changes in the diet were associated
with a 21 per cent increased contribution to greenhouse gas emissions,
22 per cent increased contribution to the nation's water footprint and
17 per cent increased contribution to its ecological footprint.

Nutritionist, and first author of the study, Jacqueline Tereza da Silva,
of the Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Sa~o Paulo,
said: "The relationship between food systems and climate change is complex
and challenges food security itself. Food systems are responsible for
a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and yet, at the same time,
they suffer from the climate impacts that they themselves help to cause." Co-author of the study, Dr Christian Reynolds, Senior Lecturer at the
Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London said:


==========================================================================
"For our health and sustainability, ultra-processed foods are already a massive, and growing problem. This study shows that Brazil is experiencing
a similar transition in their diet to what has happened in the UK. Both in
a shorter time frame, and with similar large effects on the environment.

"Our findings suggest that diet-related diseases and climate change share
an underlying driver and therefore, should be addressed simultaneously.

Multicomponent actions and policies targeting multiple areas should be considered. For instance, fiscal interventions such as taxes or subsides, regulation on advertising, and improving food and menus labelling with
the addition of environmental impacts." Dr Ximena Schmidt, co-author
and Global Challenges Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable
Energy Use, Brunel University London: "This study shows for the first
time how increasing the consumption of ultra- processed foods has
produced more greenhouse gas emissions and used more water and land,
even in developing countries like Brazil. We need to help people change
their diets to protect the environment and live healthy lives. We need
to finally acknowledge that impacts to the environment and health have to
be tackled together" The project was funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council Global Challenges Research Fund (STFC GCRF).

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by City_University_London. Original
written by Shamim Quadir. Note: Content may be edited for style and
length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jacqueline Tereza da Silva, Josefa Maria Fellegger Garzillo,
Fernanda
Rauber, Alana Kluczkovski, Ximena Schmidt Rivera, Gabriela Lopes
da Cruz, Angelina Frankowska, Carla Adriano Martins, Maria Laura
da Costa Louzada, Carlos Augusto Monteiro, Christian Reynolds,
Sarah Bridle, Renata Bertazzi Levy. Greenhouse gas emissions, water
footprint, and ecological footprint of food purchases according
to their degree of processing in Brazilian metropolitan areas: a
time-series study from 1987 to 2018. The Lancet Planetary Health,
2021; 5 (11): e775 DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196 (21)00254-0 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211111080345.htm

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