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<p>United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In July 2023, the SACN published
a position statement on processed foods and health, summarising a scoping review of
the evidence on food processing and health. The statement can be accessed via the
following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre."
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health-summary-report#:~:text=Consumption%20of%20(ultra-)%20processed,fruit%20and%20vegetables%20and%20fibre.</a></p><p>The
statement included an evaluation of the methods of applying the ultra-processed food
(UPF) definition in the UK, the suitability of such methods, and consideration of
the availability and quality of evidence on food processing and health.</p><p>It made
reference to international policy and recommendations with respect to food processing
and estimates of processed food consumption in the United States and France. The statement
notes that estimated average UPF consumption in the United States was comparable to
estimates conducted for the UK. Estimated average UPF consumption in France was somewhat
lower than the UK. However, it is unclear if this is due to differences in dietary
patterns, data collection methods, the methods used to estimate UPF consumption, or
a combination of some, or all, of these issues.</p><p>The SACN concluded that observed
associations between UPF and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these
foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content.
Given the SACN’s concerns, the committee has added the topic of processed foods to
its watching brief and will consider it at its next horizon scan meeting in June 2024.<em>
</em>No specific assessment has been made of the impact of the UK exiting the European
Union on levels of UPF consumption.</p>
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