1、Ultra-processed Foods:Why They Matter and What to Do About ItA Consumers Guide to Better Eating and Public PolicyCONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA2|OCTOBER 2024ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS:WHY THEY MATTER AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT ITOCTOBER 2024|3Table of ContentsExecutive Summary 5I.Introduction 5II.Background:Th

2、e Rise of Obesity and Diet-Related Disease 6III.The emerging consensus around ultra-processed foods 8 A.Whats special about UPFs?8 B.Which ingredients signal a product is UPF?9 C.The evidence linking UPFs to disease 10IV.The leading theories on how UPFs may cause disease 11 A.UPFs cause disease beca

3、use they lead to excess calorie consumption 11 1.UPFs texture and modified food matrix lead to overeating 11 2.UPFs high fat,salt,and sugar content causes overeating 12 3.Other“hyperpalatable”qualities of UPF cause overeating 12 4.Additives in UPFs disrupt normal“flavor-nutrient learning”processes 1

4、3 B.UPFs cause disease by degrading the microbiome 14 C.UPFs contain chemicals that interfere with the bodys hormones 14 D.Additives in UPFs interfere with healthy brain development 16V.Policy solutions to reduce UPF harms 18 A.Require independent,rigorous review of food chemical safety 18 1.Close t

5、he GRAS loophole 19 2.Reassess the safety of food chemicals on the market 19 B.Increase funding for research on UPFs 19 C.Educate consumers about ultra-processed foods.20 1.Include a UPF definition and recommendation to reduce consumption in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 20 2.Require front-of

6、-pack labeling to help consumers distinguish UPFs 21i.FDAs proposed FOP labeling requirements 21ii.An“ultra-processed food”warning label?22iii.A voluntary“certified less processed”label?22iv.A warning label for foods containing artificial dyes 23v.Filling in the gapslabeling requirements online and