Global Health Under Threat: Urgent Warnings Issued Over Ultra-Processed Food Surge

Experts worldwide are raising alarms about the rapid increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, linking it to a surge in chronic health problems. This global health crisis is driven by UPFs displacing fresh foods, according to a major series of papers published in The Lancet on November 18-19, 2025.

The Lancet series, involving 43 international experts, highlights that UPFs are replacing fresh and minimally processed meals globally, contributing to poorer diet quality. This widespread dietary shift is associated with a higher risk of multiple chronic diseases, as reported by sciencedaily on November 24, 2025.

Scientists are urgently calling for bold, coordinated policy action to counter significant corporate influence and shift food systems towards healthier options. Professor Carlos Monteiro of the University of São Paulo emphasized that humans are not biologically adapted to consume these products, according to The Guardian on November 19, 2025.

Major food companies are driving this global rise in UPF consumption, prioritizing profit over public health. These corporations use aggressive tactics, including extensive marketing and political lobbying, to prevent effective regulation, as revealed in The Lancet series on November 19, 2025.

The problem's scale is significant, with UPFs accounting for over 50% of the average diet in countries like the UK and US, and up to 80% in some disadvantaged populations. This widespread consumption poses a "seismic threat" to global health, according to The Guardian's report on November 19, 2025.

Diets high in UPFs are linked to harm in nearly every major organ system, including increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression. A systematic review of 104 long-term studies found 92 reported greater associated risks of chronic diseases or early death, as noted by EMJ on November 23, 2025.

• Definition and Characteristics of Ultra-Processed Foods: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made mostly from substances extracted or derived from foods, plus additives not typically found in home kitchens. The NOVA classification system, developed by Professor Carlos Monteiro, categorizes foods based on their processing level, defining UPFs as highly manipulated products often high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, as explained by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on November 10, 2025.

• Extensive Health Impacts: A comprehensive review of 45 meta-analyses, covering nearly 10 million people, linked diets high in UPFs to 32 health conditions, including various cancers, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular events, according to Johns Hopkins on November 10, 2025. Medical News Today reported on November 21, 2025, that high UPF consumption may increase lung cancer risk by up to 41% and worsen inflammatory bowel disease.

• Corporate Influence and Tactics: Food companies exert significant corporate power, spending vast sums on lobbying and marketing to protect their highly profitable UPF sector. The bmj reported on November 19, 2025, that the UPF industry uses a "political playbook" similar to tobacco companies, engaging in direct lobbying, influencing scientific debate, and making political donations to block regulation.

• Policy Recommendations and Global Action: Experts are advocating for comprehensive policy interventions, including front-of-package warning labels, marketing restrictions (especially for children), bans on UPFs in public institutions like schools, and higher taxes on these products. The Lancet series authors, as reported by eurekalert! on November 19, 2025, stress that improving diets requires coordinated policies, not just individual behavioral change.

• Role of International Organizations: The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively developing global guidance on UPF consumption, complementing existing recommendations on macronutrient intake, as reported on June 19, 2025. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has also developed a Nutrient Profile Model to help governments identify unhealthy products and implement policies like marketing restrictions and taxation, according to Food Politics by Marion Nestle on July 9, 2021.

• Economic and Social Implications: The global annual sales of UPFs top $1.9 trillion, making it the most profitable food sector, as noted by Scimex on November 18, 2025. This profitability fuels corporate power, allowing companies to expand production and influence. The issue also has equity concerns, as UPF consumption is often highest among lower-income households who rely on cheaper options, according to EMJ on November 23, 2025.

• Challenges and Future Outlook: Despite growing evidence, implementing effective policies faces significant barriers, primarily corporate resistance and the need for a unified global response. The US, for instance, is still working to establish a uniform federal definition of UPFs, with the FDA and USDA collaborating on this effort as of September 18, 2025, to inform future policymaking.