The Series highlights the vast economic power of manufacturers, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, whose revenues fund lobbying efforts that hinder attempts at regulation A new Lancet Series warns…

The Series highlights the vast economic power of manufacturers, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, whose revenues fund lobbying efforts that hinder attempts at regulation

A new Lancet Series warns that ultra-processed foods are driving chronic disease and worsening global health inequalities.

A rising tide of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in diets around the world is endangering public health, fuelling chronic diseases, and deepening social inequalities, according to a major new Lancet Series published on November 19. The authors call for a coordinated global response to confront the growing corporate dominance shaping modern food systems and to promote healthier, more sustainable diets.

UPFs defined under the Nova classification system as foods containing additives that enhance flavour, texture, or appearance have become deeply embedded in global diets. High intake of these products has been repeatedly linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and multiple other health conditions. While some critics argue that the UPF category is overly broad, grouping items such as fortified cereals with sugary drinks or reconstituted meats, the Lancet authors stress that it is dietary patterns dominated by UPFs rather than individual items that pose the greatest risk.

At the centre of the UPF ecosystem is the mass industrial processing of low-cost commodities like maize, wheat, soy, and palm oil. These are transformed into a wide range of food derivatives and additives by a handful of powerful multinational corporations. Products are engineered for hyperpalatability and marketed aggressively, encouraging overconsumption while displacing traditional, nutrient-rich foods. In many high-income nations, UPFs now account for roughly half of all household food expenditure, with consumption rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries.

The environmental toll is equally substantial. The production, processing, and transport of these agricultural commodities are energy-intensive and heavily reliant on fossil fuels, while UPFs commonly use single-use plastics for packaging.

The Series highlights the vast economic power of manufacturers, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, whose revenues fund lobbying efforts that hinder attempts at regulation. To counter this influence, the authors call for strong, government-led interventions, including the incorporation of UPF markers such as artificial colours, flavours, and non-sugar sweeteners into nutrient profiling systems, the implementation of mandatory front-of-pack warning labels, restrictions on marketing to children, the limitation of UPFs in public institutions, and the introduction of higher taxes on these products.

The report also urges stricter competition policies, the replacement of voluntary industry self-regulation with mandatory rules, and measures to prevent corporate interference in policymaking. Civil society has a critical role, the authors note, citing the success of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program in supporting regulatory reforms across Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing equity is essential. UPF consumption is often highest among populations facing economic hardship. Policymakers must ensure that efforts to reduce UPF intake do not exacerbate gender inequalities in household cooking responsibilities or increase food insecurity among those who rely on cheap, processed foods. Redirecting agricultural subsidies toward diverse, local food producers and using UPF taxes to fund cash transfers for whole and minimally processed foods are among the recommendations.

The Lancet Series concludes that the UPF industry reflects a food system increasingly driven by corporate interests at the expense of public health. To reverse the global spread of UPFs, the authors call for a well-resourced, coordinated international effort that implements comprehensive policies, curbs harmful corporate practices, and reshapes food systems to prioritise human and planetary health.