The Shift in Modern Diets
Throughout history, until fairly recently anyway, our diets have been pretty simple. We ate what was available locally: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. These foods were rich in nutrients that provided us with energy and kept us healthy. As farming evolved and became more industrialised, and as food companies grew, ready made, processed foods began replacing fresh foods.
Now, a large portion of the world’s diet is made up of, not just processed foods, but ultra-processed foods (UPFs), foods that are severely lacking in the nutrients our bodies need. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted that poor diets are one of the main drivers behind chronic health conditions such as obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These conditions are all on the rise and much of this can be traced back to the consumption of processed foods which grew steadily in the late 1970s, early 1980s.
Should Food Be a Commodity or a Human Right?
Food is a basic human right. According to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights people have the right to adequate food, even so there are still people suffering from malnutrition. Even though food is essential for our survival there are millions of people around the world who don’t have access to nutritious meals. I don't believe the issue is really about how much food we’re producing, but more about its distribution, accessibility and affordability.
Do We Need to Eat So Much?
Do we even feel hungry anymore? We’re eating more than we need, and ultra-processed foods are the reason. They’re designed to be over-consumed; easy, convenient and addictive. As a result we are consuming too many empty calories, which is fuelling the rise in obesity and diet-related diseases. Just look around at the number of overweight people, including children. I can't remember seeing that when I was growing up in the 1970s.
If your diet is mostly ultra-processed foods (60% of the average UK diet is UPF), studies show you’re eating about 500 more calories per day than if you were eating the same foods in their minimally processed forms.
Can Farming Keep Up?
I believe that we can still feed everyone with fresh, healthy foods, but we need to farm in a way that doesn’t harm the planet. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a third of global soil is now degraded, which has direct implications for food security. Instead of industrial farming methods which focus on single crops and the routine use of chemicals, we need to use better, more eco-friendly farming methods using fewer chemicals that keep the soil healthy.
Organic farming, or as I like to call it 'Farming the way it used to be', is one such way. It avoids synthetic chemicals and GMOs, using natural fertilisers and pest control instead. Another method is regenerative farming which focuses on improving soil by adding compost, planting cover crops, and rotating crops to keep the land healthy. We have the potential to create a food system that’s more sustainable and better for our health. We need to start investing in the things that keep us alive and that includes our food!
Are Big Food Companies Interested in Change?
A handful of big food companies run the food industry, do they really want to change this multi-trillion pound system? The reality is that these companies are driven by profit, and whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables or ethically raised meats aren't as profitable as ultra-processed products. Ultra-processed foods are cheaper to produce and easier to market, which is why they have become the focus for the food giants.
Even as consumers are becoming more health-conscious and demanding healthier options, many companies are reluctant to make major changes because of potential impacts on their profits. They use misleading labels, add "healthy" buzzwords, and reformulate products just enough to appear better.
If we move to more sustainable farming practices and create more equitable food systems, we could make sure that everyone has access to good food without relying on profit-driven models that prioritise cheap, unhealthy food. I understand that the food industry needs to be profitable, but surely not at the cost of people’s health or the environment.
Sources:
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). (2017). The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture: Managing Systems at Risk. FAO.
Hall, K.D. et al. (2019) ‘Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: An inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake’, Cell Metabolism, 30(1), pp. 67–77.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN.