fbpx

From pot noodles to cookies and chocolate desserts, the ultra-processed foods have been promoted by the NHS Healthy Eating app after a bombshell study linked them to cancer

An NHS healthy eating app promotes ultra-processed junk food, describing cookies, cakes and chips as “good choices”, a survey has found.

Obesity campaigners called last night’s revelation “unbelievable” and called for an urgent review of the NHS Food Scanner.

The free app, which has been downloaded more than half a million times, regularly encourages users to buy highly processed products and even endorses instant noodles and an energy drink, the Soil Association found.

Highly processed foods are made with ingredients or processes not found in a typical kitchen and have been linked to cancer, heart disease, depression and early death.

The free app, which has been downloaded more than half a million times, regularly encourages users to buy highly processed products and even endorses instant noodles and an energy drink, the Soil Association found.  It also says McVitie's Rich Tea Biscuits and Mr Kipling Bakewell Slices are healthy options

The free app, which has been downloaded more than half a million times, regularly encourages users to buy highly processed products and even endorses instant noodles and an energy drink, the Soil Association found. It also says McVitie’s Rich Tea Biscuits and Mr Kipling Bakewell Slices are healthy options

Products endorsed or recommended by the app include cookies, cakes, crisps, chocolate pudding, soft drinks, energy drinks and instant noodles

Products endorsed or recommended by the app include cookies, cakes, crisps, chocolate pudding, soft drinks, energy drinks and instant noodles

WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?

Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains, according to the NHS

Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains, according to the NHS

• Eat at least five portions of different fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count

• Alkaline meals based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole grains

• Thirty grams of fiber per day. This is equivalent to eating all of the following: five servings of fruit and vegetables, two whole grain granola cookies, two thick slices of whole grain bread, and one large baked potato with skin on

• If you have some dairy products or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks), choose lower fat, lower sugar options

• Eat beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including two portions of fish per week, one of which is fatty).

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small amounts

• Drink six to eight cups/glasses of water daily

• Adults should consume less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men per day

Source: NHS Eatwell Guide

British children consume the most ultra-processed foods in Europe, with children under 14 getting two-thirds of their daily energy intake from this source.

The government has encouraged parents to download the app on their mobile phones so they can make healthier shopping decisions.

Users scan the barcode on products to see how much fat, sugar and salt they contain, with those below a certain threshold receiving a Good Choice badge.

When a product is found to be too fatty, sugary or salty, the app suggests “smart swaps” that it considers a healthier alternative.

However, the investigation found that health officials do not consider food and beverage processing before certifying it.

Suggested substitutes often contain less sugar or fat than the product scanned, but a long list of ingredients that would never be found in a home kitchen, such as emulsifiers, additives and artificial sweeteners.

Products endorsed or recommended by the app include cookies, cakes, crisps, chocolate pudding, soft drinks, energy drinks and instant noodles.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: “It’s surprising that an NHS healthy eating app is pushing this food without thinking about how it’s produced.

Everyone should eat some fat, sugar and salt, but the way the food is processed is the real killer. You cannot look at these things separately.

“The government should recommend healthy foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables rather than just more junk food with less sugar.

“This app needs an overhaul because it certainly won’t improve the health of the country in its current form.”

A Soil Association report on their research says a “growing body of research” has linked ultra-processed foods to poor health and weight gain.

It highlights studies showing the adverse effect of industrial additives and processing techniques on the gut microbiome and overall health.

This means these foods pose health risks, even if they are relatively lower in fat, sugar and salt, the charity says.

She criticizes the British government for not following other countries in adopting legislation or policies to limit the intake of these foods.

The report adds: “Although the UK is one of the biggest consumers of ultra-processed foods and British children have the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods in Europe, these products are ignored in the UK government’s malnutrition guidelines.

Worse, recent efforts to help parents and caregivers choose healthy products for their children have even encouraged purchases of ultra-processed foods and beverages.

“We found products promoting unhealthy snacks, artificially sweetened drinks and even energy drinks that were awarded the Good Choice badge by the UK government and promoted as healthy substitutes by the NHS Food Scanner app.

“Our campaign is calling on the UK government to stop using the cookie, remove their Good Choice badge from these products and help people eat less highly processed food.”

Soil Association researchers asked 17 parents to scan three foods and drinks they regularly bought for their children and record the “smart exchanges”.

Analysis showed that 104 of those products received the Good Choice, High-5 Go Green or Healthier Choice badge, but 80 percent of them were highly processed.

Cathy Cliff, campaign co-ordinator at the Land Society, said: “We are shocked to see that the government not only ignores the health risks associated with highly processed food, but actively encourages families to consume it.

“It seems the government is more concerned about corporate profits than children’s health.

“When every penny counts, it’s almost criminal to trick families into wasting money on junk food that only poses health risks.

“The government’s dietary advice is very outdated and the lack of good advice is putting us all at risk.

“It is wrong that fizzy drinks and crisps are advertised to children.

“The government takes the cake. We call on them to stop the nonsense – stop telling families that ultra-processed products are a good choice and show real leadership to help us all eat better.

“Other countries such as France, Chile and Brazil are taking action to make it easier for people to eat less of these unhealthy foods – why is the UK dragging its feet?”

Miss Cliff added: “Many of the products that get a thumbs up or a high five from the NHS Food Scanner app are unhealthy, highly processed foods and drinks, sold by some of the UK’s most popular brands.

“The government’s Better Health campaign has been linked to commercial food companies from the start.

“With junk food producers awarded the Good Choice badge, it is inexcusable that a public health campaign sometimes favors food companies more than families.”

Parent Rachel Childs, who completed the survey, said: “The NHS app doesn’t take into account the level of processing and doesn’t suggest switching to nutritious food – why buy biscuits with a little less sugar than I can be encouraged to buy fruit instead?

“It destroys the whole idea of ​​planning a nutritionally balanced diet.”

“Replacing processed foods with other processed foods misses concepts such as the need for dietary diversity and reducing snacking.”

A healthy living campaign on television, radio, streaming services and social media encouraged parents to download the app.

Promotional leaflets were also distributed to parents and carers at the school.

According to the Google Play Store, the app has been downloaded more than 500,000 times.

However, this does not take into account downloads from other app stores, including Apple, so the number is likely to be significantly higher.

A Department of Health and Welfare spokesman said: “Diets high in ultra-processed foods are also high in calories, sugar, saturated fat and salt, which can cause chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. .

The Food Scanner app helps families see what’s in their food and drink and offers a variety of products that can help them cut sugar, saturated fat and salt, including alternatives to family favorites like cookies, chips and fizzy drinks.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the app experience, including expanding and personalizing messages across different food and drink categories, and we welcome feedback from parents and organizations to help us in the process.”

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Trending

Related POSTS