Ultra-processed foods and human health: need urgent physician’s attention

Abstract

Processed foods are in our daily usage since ancient civilizations so as consumable food available in need during disasters (natural, wars), off seasons. Upon industrial revolution during last century and growing world population, the definition and angle to look towards processed foods have been changed. These efforts are made to counter the food security issue by keeping hunger at bay around the globe.

Normally food industries ultra-process food to preserve it for longer duration rather than prioritize to keep their nutritional values intact.  More and more chemical compounds are being added every year in the list of food additives. This extensive list does not concern about nutritional values or potential health hazards leading to long term health complications. Sometimes it happens that after a prolonged period of selling these ultra-processed food products, international bodies ban one particular food additive once major health issues come across to physicians and reported by major health organizations in the world. Careful monitoring of long-term health complications of ultra-processed foods in medical laboratory is absolutely necessary. Diseases like cancer, thyroid malfunction, type 2 diabetes, digestion issues, kidney problems, cardiac issues, nutritional imbalance, chronic non-communicable diseases occur upon long term consumption of ultra-processed food products. The more focus has been given on the production and maintaining food security in the world, but questions about health and food safety emerge. The industries involving these ultra-processed foods advertise on social media, TV, newspaper etc. to accelerate their company revenue at the cost of human health ignoring possible interaction of ultra-processed food in body’s metabolism.

Physicians in coordination with international institutions should prepare possible regulatory policy on how much consumption of ultra-processed foods can be considered as safe to live healthy life. Statutory label similar to on alcohol and tobacco products should be pasted on ultra-processed foods. During pregnancy, underage children, elderly, people with underlying diseases; consumption warning should also need to mention on processed food package. This can revolutionalise ultra-processed foods labelling and contribute to well-being of human by keeping possible diseases at distant. Due to this food safety awareness among children, pregnant women, elderly, and people with prone to diseases can be increased. If successful coordination made between physicians and food industries, the major root causing health problem can be tackled. Thus, a step towards genuine food security with healthy ultra-processed foods can be achieved.