Name: Why it can be hard to avoid ultra-processed foods
Uploaded: 2025-11-19T03:36:09.491Z
Duration: 2 min 2 s
Description: Research has shown how bad ultra-processed foods can be for people’s health, but factors including the cost of fresh foods and food literacy can make them harder to avoid for some Canadians.

Research has shown how bad ultra-processed foods can be for people’s health, but factors including the cost of fresh foods and food literacy can make them harder to avoid for some Canadians.

Ottawa

Recent studies published in The Lancet have linked higher consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression. In Canada, over half of the foods purchased are ultra-processed, a figure that has more than doubled since the 1930s, contributing to a rise in chronic diseases.

Experts attribute the popularity of ultra-processed foods to their convenience, affordability, and long shelf life, but also note that lack of food literacy and limited access to proper kitchen facilities are barriers to healthier eating. Researchers suggest that policy interventions, such as school lunch programs and clearer food labeling, could help Canadians make healthier choices and reduce disease rates.

Why it can be hard to avoid ultra-processed foods

TV dinners, mass-produced breads and breakfast cereals. Millions of Canadians eat ultra-processed foods, now a warning from top global experts on how harmful they are. Human beings are not adapted to ultra-processed foods. In a series of studies published in The Lancet, researchers found eating more ultra-processed foods was associated with higher risk of several diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. In Canada, more than half of the foods we buy are ultra-processed, a figure that has more than doubled since the 1930s. This is the most convincing explanation for the pandemic of chronic diseases. Ultra-processed foods are made to be super palatable. They're also easy to prepare, have a longer shelf life and are often cheaper. This researcher says food literacy is a big contributor to childhood obesity in Canada. Simply understanding how to hold a knife and chop up vegetables. That's a simple food skill that some families and children do not have. But that's only one piece of the puzzle. They're not just more convenient, they're the only option for people depending on their circumstance. This food bank offers Whole Foods, but they know some people can't use them. Oftentimes they don't have access to a proper kitchen to safely store and safely prepare fresh foods. But there are ways to reduce consumption. Some countries have free school lunch programs focused on Whole Foods. Others have labelling requirements for unhealthy foods. Canada can take steps too, says this researcher. We have a great opportunity to address the chronic diseases that we're facing in this country by changing the food system and we can't just be the last country to do so. Researchers argue policies that help Canadians access and choose healthy food will prevent diseases down the line. Jennifer Yoon, CBC News, Toronto.

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