Jakarta –
On the market now there are various ready to eat menus, aka ready to eat. But behind its deliciousness and practicality, you must be careful about consuming this menu because it increases the risk of death. This is what the researchers say.
Quote South China Morning Post (21/11), researchers revealed that consuming ultra-processed and ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs, frozen pizza and donuts will trigger premature death. The results of this research were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
For a long time, consumption of ultra-processed foods has been associated with an increased risk of disease in a person. These diseases include diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
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Researchers then wanted to dig further to see how consumption of certain foods was related to premature death. They carry out comparative risk assessments or simulations of the impact of risk factors on health. This was conveyed by lead author Eduardo Nilson from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.
Based on their research models and calculations, ultra-processed foods account for 13 to 21 percent of the total energy intake of adults in Brazil.
In 2019, more than 500,000 Brazilians aged 30 to 69 died. Consumption of ultra-processed foods was responsible for about 57,000 premature deaths among that group, or about 10.5 percent, according to researchers’ calculations.
However, Nilson said that number could actually be even higher. The research team also estimates that the number of cases is likely to be greater in the United States, where consumption of ultra-processed foods such as ready-to-eat foods is so common.
“This is a public health issue,” he said. “What we’re dealing with in Brazil is a steady, gradual increase in processed food consumption. In the US, I think it’s actually been more steady over time, but it’s been very high,” Nilson said.
What is ultra processed food?
 Consuming processed foods such as ready-to-eat sausages or other ready-to-cook menus is high risk for health. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/milanfoto |
Nilson defines ultra-processed food as food that is made in factories en masse and is ready to eat, aka ready to eat. These foods contain little fresh ingredients and lots of starch, processed proteins, and food additives.
Nilson says, “Ultra-processed foods are a far cry from what we have in our kitchens, when you make food from fresh ingredients. These foods are meant to be eaten in excess and have a long shelf life, and are normally cheap to produce.”
Ultra-processed foods are commonly consumed by people with low incomes because they are worried about financial problems. Apart from that, this food is relatively easy to obtain so consumption levels are also high.
Reducing your consumption of ultra-processed foods can have a big impact
The research team then compared national food consumption data in Brazil, along with demographic and mortality data. Comparison taken from 2017-2018 and 2019.
They estimate that if Brazilians cut their intake of ultra-processed foods they could prevent 5,900 to 29,300 deaths per year. Reducing ultra-processed food consumption by 20% could make ultra-processed food consumption figures in Brazil like they were 10 years ago.
“Not far from the past,” Nilson said. “57,000 deaths can be prevented. We need urgency in terms of policies to reduce consumption of processed food and increase food that is healthier, fresher and less processed,” he continued.
