Nutritional, environmental and economic impacts of ultra-processed food consumption in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the full life cycle impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) for key environmental, economic, and nutritional indicators to identify trade-offs between UPFs’ contribution to broad-scope sustainability. Design: Using 24 h dietary recalls along with an input-output database for the Australian economy, dietary environmental and economic impacts were quantified in this national representative cross-sectional analysis. Food items were classified into non-UPF and UPF using the NOVA system and dietary energy contribution from non-UPF and UPF fractions in diets were estimated. Thereafter, associations between nutritional, environmental, and economic impacts of non-UPF and UPF fractions of diets were examined using a multi-dimensional nutritional geometry representation. Setting: National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011- 2012 of Australia Subjects: Respondents (n = 5344) aged > 18 years with one day of 24 h dietary recall data excluding respondents with missing values and outlier data points, and under reporters Results: Australian diets rich in UPF were associated with reduced nutritional quality, high greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and increased employment and income associated with the food supply chains. The environmental and economic impacts associated with the UPF portion of diets become more distinct when the diets are standardized to average protein recommendation. Conclusion: Increased consumption of UPF has socio-economic benefits, but this comes with adverse effects on the environment and public health. Consideration of such trade-offs is important in identifying policy and other mechanisms regarding UPF for establishing healthy and sustainable food systems.

Ultra‐processing should be understood as a holistic issue, from food matrix, to dietary patterns, food scoring, and food systems

“…More recently, some quantitative studies were published relating UPF consumption to various environmental footprints. First, in Australia, diets rich in UPF were associated with high greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, with emission being mostly related to "additional processing and packaging rather than its raw materials" (Liyanapathirana et al, 2023). According to the Third French Individual and National Food Consumption report, "UPF represented 19% of the diet yet contributed 24% to the diet's greenhouse gas emissions, 23% to water use, 23% to land use and 26% to energy demand," the higher environmental pressure from high-UPF consumers partially coming from calorie intake (Kesse-Guyot et al, 2022).…”