Pointed out for many years for their harmful effects on health, ultra-processed foods are more and more numerous on supermarket shelves. Here are 3 simple and effective tips to spot them.
Sliced bread, cereals, prepared meals, nuggets, fish sticks, soft drinks… ultra-processed foods are part of the daily diet of many French people. According to the investigation “Ultra-processed foods, the real health scandal” published in the latest issue of L’Expressthese foods represent 30% of the French diet and almost 60% of those of the Americans and the English. However, numerous scientific studies reveal their negative impacts on health. French researcher Mathilde Touvier has established a possible link between certain emulsifiers used by the food industry and cardiovascular diseases, in a study published in the British Medical Journal.
And these ultra-processed foods are not always easy to identify. This is particularly the case of certain vegan or organic products : foods whose molecular structure has been modified by the food industry and which are sometimes labeled with a Nutri-Score A or B. In the La Loupe podcast, journalist Thomas Mahler, deputy editorial director of L’Express, reveals 3 tips for identifying ultra-processed foods on supermarket shelves.
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3 ways to recognize an ultra-processed product in the supermarket
The journalist presents 3 simple and effective ways to recognize ultra-processed foods in the supermarket:
- In general: sandwich bread, cereals, industrial cakes, filled bars and prepared meals.
- Products in plastic that have an ingredient on their label that is not found in traditional cuisine.
- Foods that include the words “rich in fiber” or “low fat” on their packaging.
The best way to avoid consuming these ultra-processed foods is to opt for the most “raw” foods possible (fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, rice, natural yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.) and to favor homemade dishes.
Head of beauty/fitness/nutrition sections
After working for the Marie Claire and Prisma Media groups, Inès arrived at aufeminin in April 2022. Responsible for the beauty, fitness and nutrition sections, she likes to decipher the latest…