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Are ultra-processed foods ultra-dangerous?

The World Avocado Organisation delivered an important reminder to be conscious of what we are consuming, with worrying statistics concerning ultra-processed foods in the average person's diet.

The World Avocado Organisation reiterated how health experts are increasingly advocating for diets rich in natural, raw and lightly-processed foods, over concerns that the average person’s diet is made up of too many ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods constitute over half of the total energy intake in UK diets, leading to increased health risks. In fact, data shows that in the UK, ultra-processed foods have been found to make up 56.8 per cent of total energy intake and 64.7 per cent of total free sugars in adult diets, and the figures are even worse for children (74.9 per cent) and teenagers (82.9 per cent). Ultra-processed foods are cause for concern as they, often, contain harmful additional ingredients needed to increase their shelf life, colour or taste. This is in contrast to whole, ‘natural’ or minimally processed foods, like vegetables, nuts and fruits, which do not go through much or any processes before being consumed. 

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