Tell the whole truth about ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are foods that have gone through industrial processes and changed the nature of the original ingredients. This then leaves little, if any, of the original whole food behind.

The ultra-processed food industry has blocked government attempts to push shops to promote deals on healthy foods, making them more affordable.

This is wrong. Public health must come before UPF company profits.

What are the government and the ultra-processed food industry doing to help?

Our latest survey highlighted that making whole and minimally processed foods more affordable is the most important thing the government could do to make healthy food easy to access.

The government's Department of Health and Social Care had planned to encourage retailers to shift the balance of price promotions towards minimally processed foods. This includes fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains like rice and pasta, and unprocessed meat.

But industry lobbyists, representing the UK's biggest UPF companies, demanded this advice be removed from the guidance issued to retailers. And yet, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that minimally processed and whole foods are crucial for a healthy diet.

Are ultra-processed foods bad?

UPFs can be bad for our health and the environment.

Eating a lot of UPFs is linked to a higher risk of long-term health problems. These foods are often high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats, but low in the nutrients our bodies need. They also don’t keep us feeling full for very long, which can lead to overeating and weight gain. Over time, they replace healthier, whole foods in our diets.

UPFs also put pressure on the planet. They are made through intensive farming and industrial processes that can damage nature. Common ingredients like soya and palm oil are often linked to deforestation, which destroys wildlife habitats and releases carbon into the atmosphere.

Producing meat and dairy for UPFs can pollute soils and rivers, as pesticides and fertilisers wash into waterways. Despite the huge range of products on supermarket shelves, most UPFs are made from the same small number of crops. Making these foods also uses much more energy than producing whole foods, increasing our reliance on fossil fuels.

What's the solution to ultra-processed foods?

Put whole foods at the heart of food strategy

Soil Association wants to see UK diets shift away from harmful ultra-processed foods and towards whole and minimally processed foods. To make this happen, the Government must put whole foods at the centre of food strategy.

A food strategy should be aimed at addressing unequal access to good food, recognising this as a social justice issue, and should create the conditions for a minimally processed diet to be convenient, enjoyable, and affordable. This will require action to increase the availability of fresh foods, as well as healthier processed foods, and policies that enable healthier food businesses to thrive.

Read the Whole Truth report to find out more

Healthy and sustainable food for everyone

Everyone should have the right to good food that is made with care for the environment.

Millions of people in the UK don’t have access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy. That includes children in schools, and people in hospitals, care homes and workplaces. Much of the food we eat is still made in ways that harm our natural world and health.

We know it is possible to change the system to make healthy and sustainable food available, affordable and accessible to all.

Find out more about healthy and sustainable food for all

Nature-friendly farming

Nature-friendly farming offers a better way forward. By working with nature rather than against it, farmers can produce healthy, nutritious food without relying on harmful chemicals or damaging wildlife. This kind of farming protects soils, rivers and habitats, supports biodiversity, and gives farm animals a better quality of life.

It shows that we can feed people well while caring for the planet we depend on.

Find out more about nature-friendly farming