The debate on ultra-processed foods: Are they really unhealthy?

Nutrition advice is often fickle. In the 1990s, nutritionists blamed rising obesity rates on fat. Then in the early 2000s, carbohydrates were blamed. Now, the message is to eat whole foods and avoid highly processed foods. Why can’t we get clear answers about what we should eat?

The problem is that simply choosing foods with fewer ingredients and less processing doesn’t guarantee a healthier diet. In fact, as demonstrated at a recent American Academy of Nutrition conference in Chicago, research on ultra-processed foods (UPF) has shown that…