The shelves are full of junk, you can’t blame the consumer for that (Image: Unsplash)
The supermarkets are full of ultra-processed food, which we consume every day in a sauce of cognitive dissonance. What does this lead to and is there an alternative conceivable?
We leave the floor to nutrition expert Jan Buining, who has an interesting view on popular addiction number one. “Too much is expected of the consumer.”
‘Ultra-processed food leads to expensive pills’
“Our derailed food supply mainly consists of ultra-processed food and is responsible for fewer and fewer healthy years. It drives us to expensive or ineffective pills with unpleasant side effects. It is high time for a Delta Plan to save what can be saved.
Jan Buining (Afbeelding: Tasty Basics)
The derailment of our food is partly due to unnecessary additives, but mainly to the use of highly processed raw materials. Ingredients like sugar, white flour and shortening concentrate nutrients like carbohydrates and fats. Its use in food is in no way subject to maximum limits.
Processed raw materials therefore make the food supply high in calories and at the same time poor in essential nutrients, but above all they disrupt our digestion. This leads to obesity and undernutrition, respectively, but also to a long series of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, many types of cancer and dementia.”
‘Expecting too much from the consumer’
“The European institute EIT Food conducted research into how Europeans feel about Ultra Processed Food (UPF). A major concern emerged about the effects of those UPFs on our health. The report further describes that knowledge about these dreaded UPFs and their consumption is limited. In the words of EIT Food director Sofia Kuhn, the recommendation is: “Better information is the basis for a better Food system.
And it is precisely that sound that is the problem. Too much is expected of the consumer. By pointing out too little information, the problem surrounding ultra-processed food is being shifted in the wrong direction. The food supply, on the other hand, is treated with kid gloves. Many billions have been invested in factories that refine agricultural products into empty calories. That should not be a reason not to create a ‘Delta plan’ to make the healthy choice in the supermarket tasty and affordable without ultra-processed raw materials.”
‘Making healthy snacks tasty and affordable’
“That is indeed possible. Healthy food can indeed be made that is delicious, also for social and enjoyable moments. Snacks and savory snacks can be made to fit a healthy diet.
Developing alternatives to ready-packed empty calories requires a lot from the sector. Food technologists and chefs have to get rid of the easy way with lots of sugar, fat and salt. Companies must invest in rediscovering how legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds can be made ready to eat while creating a harmonious explosion of flavor. Politics must show vision by supporting a transition in the food sector.”
Jan Buining, founder of Tasty Basics, is part of ANP Expert Support.
2024-03-03 08:23:03
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