{
  "id": 10086602,
  "title": "Can you eat ultra-processed foods and still be healthy? A dietitian analysed my weekly shop",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/can-you-eat-ultra-processed-foods-and-still-be-healthy-a-dietitian",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-26T23:03:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqn4knlj9v81o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Going to the supermarket can be overwhelming, with long lists of ingredients and worries about the healthiness of the items in your cart. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been linked to various health issues, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health issues, and even premature death. However, opinions among dietitians, scientists, and doctors differ on the reasons behind these health problems.\n\nA simple guideline to identify UPFs is if a product contains more than five ingredients, with at least one not commonly found in a typical kitchen, such as emulsifiers, additives, and flavorings. A significant portion of the calories consumed in the UK comes from ultra-processed food. Professor Chris van Tulleken has extensively written and documented the negative impacts of these foods on health, even acknowledging that they are nearly impossible to avoid, including in his own family's diet.\n\nMaeve Hanan, a member of the British Dietetic Association, examined a shopper's weekly grocery list. She pointed out a box of bran flakes, stating that it is ultra-processed but offers health benefits. Hanan emphasizes that the growing hysteria around UPFs is primarily due to the black-and-white messaging surrounding them, which can fuel fear around food. She advises that the nutritional value of a product holds more importance than the number of ingredients.\n\nHanan also addresses the concern regarding ingredients that might be unfamiliar or difficult to pronounce. She explains that even the most chemically-sounding ingredients have been tested and approved under UK food laws. While chicken nuggets are a good source of protein, Hanan cautions that they are higher in fat and salt than a plain chicken breast and should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.\n\nMegan Bamford has seen improvements in managing irritable bowel syndrome and chronic pain by reducing her intake of UPFs. However, as a mother of two young children, she finds it challenging to always cook from scratch. She now includes a range of processed foods, such as breakfast cereals, crisps, and biscuits, but looks for options with five ingredients or fewer. Despite the presence of UPFs in her kitchen, Megan remains content with making the healthiest choices available to her family.",
  "summary": "UPFs are linked to a range of health problems. But no-one seems to be able to agree why.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}