28 May 2025
Whilst growing our own fruit and veg is a great way to eat more minimally processed foods, ultra-processed foods still dominate our diets.
British people eat more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) than anyone else in Europe: they make up 65% of our children’s diets and over 50% of our shopping baskets. A substantial body of research has found diets rich in ultra-processed food are associated with an increased risk of chronic ill health and disease.
Just as ultra-processed diets have been associated with harm, minimally processed diets are associated with improved health outcomes.
Re-balancing diets towards whole foods, plus healthier processed foods, would simultaneously improve population health and help address social inequalities.
The Soil Association has obtained emails via the Freedom of Information Act which show that the ultra-processed food industry has blocked government attempts to push shops to promote deals on healthy foods which would make them more affordable.
It seems that UPF company profits have been prioritised over public health. We think this is wrong.
We’re on a mission to make whole and minimally processed foods famous. We’ve launched a petition calling on government to make minimally processed food accessible to all.
Join us in calling for the UK government's Food Strategy to resist the influence of the ultra-processed food industry and make it easy for everyone to enjoy a minimally processed diet.
Please sign our petition and share widely! Thanks so much for your help!