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Consumption of ultra-processed foods and likely impact on human health. Evidence from Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2012

Jean-Claude Moubarac*
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutricão e Saúde, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brasil Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Ana Paula Bortoletto Martins
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutricão e Saúde, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brasil
Rafael Moreira Claro
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutricão e Saúde, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brasil
Renata Bertazzi Levy
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutricão e Saúde, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brasil Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
Geoffrey Cannon
Affiliation:
World Public Health Nutrition Association, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Carlos Augusto Monteiro
Affiliation:
Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutricão e Saúde, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brasil Departamento de Nutricão, Faculdade de Saúde de Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
*
*Corresponding author: Email jcmoubarac@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

To investigate consumption of ultra-processed products in Canada and to assess their association with dietary quality.

Design

Application of a classification of foodstuffs based on the nature, extent and purpose of food processing to data from a national household food budget survey. Foods are classified as unprocessed/minimally processed foods (Group 1), processed culinary ingredients (Group 2) or ultra-processed products (Group 3).

Setting

All provinces and territories of Canada, 2001.

Subjects

Households (n 5643).

Results

Food purchases provided a mean per capita energy availability of 8908 (se 81) kJ/d (2129 (se 19) kcal/d). Over 61·7 % of dietary energy came from ultra-processed products (Group 3), 25·6 % from Group 1 and 12·7 % from Group 2. The overall diet exceeded WHO upper limits for fat, saturated fat, free sugars and Na density, with less fibre than recommended. It also exceeded the average energy density target of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. Group 3 products taken together are more fatty, sugary, salty and energy-dense than a combination of Group 1 and Group 2 items. Only the 20 % lowest consumers of ultra-processed products (who consumed 33·2 % of energy from these products) were anywhere near reaching all nutrient goals for the prevention of obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases.

Conclusions

The 2001 Canadian diet was dominated by ultra-processed products. As a group, these products are unhealthy. The present analysis indicates that any substantial improvement of the diet would involve much lower consumption of ultra-processed products and much higher consumption of meals and dishes prepared from minimally processed foods and processed culinary ingredients.

Information

Type
HOT TOPIC – Food environment
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012 
Figure 0

Table 1 Contribution of the three food groups to total daily household energy availability in Canada (2001)

Figure 1

Table 2 Contribution (%) of the three food groups to total daily household energy availability by quintile of the contribution of ultra-processed products in Canada (2001)

Figure 2

Table 3 Nutrient profile indicators of the average food basket and of two simulated food baskets in Canada (2001)

Figure 3

Table 4 Nutrient profile indicators of the overall diet by quintile of the contribution of ultra-processed products to total energy in food purchases in Canada (2001)