Somewhat disturbing reports that now more than half the food purchased for family consumption in the UK is made from 'ultra-processed' ingredients (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/02/ultra-processed-products-now-half-of-all-uk-family-food-purchases). This puts the British in top spot in Europe, as eaters of products devised by 'food technologists', using ingredients (particularly salt and sugars) that encourage greater and greater consumption (and greater and greater profits for their companies). I suspect that many people use these foods because a) they they believe claims or implications that they can be nutritious and b) have been convinced that working from fresh ingredients takes too much time (difficult for people with fraught life-styles). It is not too far a leap, however, to think that this dependence of ultra-processed materials can be implicated in the obesity epidemic currently seen in the UK with its associated health risks (including type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardio-vascular disease).
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Saturday 3 February 2018
Processing Away Our Health?
Somewhat disturbing reports that now more than half the food purchased for family consumption in the UK is made from 'ultra-processed' ingredients (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/02/ultra-processed-products-now-half-of-all-uk-family-food-purchases). This puts the British in top spot in Europe, as eaters of products devised by 'food technologists', using ingredients (particularly salt and sugars) that encourage greater and greater consumption (and greater and greater profits for their companies). I suspect that many people use these foods because a) they they believe claims or implications that they can be nutritious and b) have been convinced that working from fresh ingredients takes too much time (difficult for people with fraught life-styles). It is not too far a leap, however, to think that this dependence of ultra-processed materials can be implicated in the obesity epidemic currently seen in the UK with its associated health risks (including type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardio-vascular disease).
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