World Health Organization sets out global guidelines on what to eat, and when. This is true for salt, sugar-free sweeteners, and calories, but also protein, carbohydrates and fats.
The WHO now sets the agenda on how much ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) we should consume. Food manufacturers need to pay attention because the WHO, which is very vocal about its dislike for ultra-processed food (UPF), can influence national diet guidelines.
WHO UPF rule: what we know about it
WHO research on UPF has so far not been favorable to the food processing industry. The agency claims that UPF, along with alcohol, tobacco, and fossil fuels industries, is responsible for millions in deaths each year.
WHO targets ultra-processed foods such as meat processed, beverages sweetened with sugar, trans fats and salt.
The WHO has taken action because healthy diets lowers the chance of getting diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Unhealthy diets, on the other hand, do just the opposite. UN agency plans to provide “much-needed” global guidelines on UPF consumption alongside WHO’s advice on carbohydrate, protein and fat intake.
In order to achieve this, the agency has assembled a group of multidisciplinary experts from all over the globe. The group’s goal is to develop “contextual and evidence-based information” for policymakers from UN member countries.
Who has contributed to the new UPF Guidelines?
WHO is on a hunt for expert consultants to assist in the development of this guideline. We expect that the WHO will have all of these applications by now.
What kind of people are eligible to be on WHO UPF’s expert panel?
Candidates must have a degree in a relevant field, like nutrition science or epidemiology, and demonstrate expertise. A knowledge of the effects UPF has on health is an advantage. Recent peer-reviewed publications and active participation in scientific advisory boards at national and international levels are also desirable.
The group should consist of English-fluent speakers capable of writing scientific papers and working effectively in international multidisciplinary teams.
The selected candidates will help to develop the UPF guidelines, and make recommendations about UPF use. The selected candidates will also evaluate the evidence in order to assess the benefits and risks, as well as determine how fair and practical the recommendations for people who live in various environments are.
What impact might WHO guidance have on consumer behavior?
Most food-based diet guidelines are aligned with WHO recommendations in important areas. They include recommendations for eating a wide variety of food, consuming some foods in greater quantities than others, and consuming fruits, vegetables and legumes as well as animal foods.
Read also – WHO: Ultra-processed foods kill.
Take the UK, for example. The government claims that its nutritional guidelines “are entirely in line” (according to WHO evidence) with the advice and data provided by the WHO.
The national dietary recommendations could begin to reflect this if the WHO recommended cutting down on UPF. This would be no surprise given that UPF consumption is linked with sickness and death.
UPF is not a concern of just the WHO
World Health Organization is not the only organization that has concerns about highly processed foods.
The results of the biggest UPF study to date will be published in 2024. They suggest that ultra-processed foods are linked with 32 negative health outcomes including death.
A study published earlier this year claimed that UPF could be the cause of tens and thousands of deaths around the world, but with an impact significantly greater in countries like USA and UK, which consume high amounts of UPF.
We still have a lot to learn (but we want to know)
WHO has not responded to requests for comments, which leaves important questions unanswered.
How will the organization define and categorize processed foods? The Nova system, which divides foods into four different categories according to their processing level, is the most popular. However it has been criticized for lumping nutritionally varied items together under the label of ‘ultra processed food. Imagine that fast food burgers, chocolate bars and canned beans are all in the same category as packaged wholegrain cereal and packaged bread.
It is unclear whether the WHO will support Nova in future or if it would reinterpret its framework.
Also, we’d like to know if the WHO will be focusing on how much food can be consumed safely or if it will include information on what foods are safe and which ones could potentially pose a risk. We’re not the only ones, so keep an eye on this.