As I tried to negotiate my way around a supermarket already towering with Quality Street tins I was interested to see the latest headlines about Britain’s ‘addiction’ to ultra-processed food. The fast-food habit was now costing the country a whopping £286 billion every year. This startlingly high figure came from a recent report from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) which found that the cost of chronic disease was now almost matching the total healthcare spend in the UK. For unhealthy food that is literally ‘cheap as chips’ it turns out that we are all paying for it through the cost of healthcare, social care, welfare and losses of productivity from ill health. Although the figures are shocking, the knock-on effects of the country’s increased consumption of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat are sadly, nothing new. However, what did surprise me about the media coverage surrounding the report was the number of sources that still referred to the UK’s population of ‘junk food addicts’.
As if the problem would be solved if only these people could just learn to kick the habit and stop costing the rest of us carrot-eaters already. At the same time it has become almost a habit in itself to refer to yourself as being addicted to some kind of food. At least as long as it’s to something unhealthy. Whether it’s chocolate, cheesy chips or maybe an entire chain of fast-food outlets everyone knows an ‘addict’. Because who has ever heard anyone referring to their cottage cheese habit or admitting that they simply can’t stop eating spinach? Of course, ultra-processed foods are intentionally designed to be highly palatable and to feed into our inherent primal appetites for foods high in sugar, salt and fat. It’s hardly surprising then that we find them so moreish and the billions of pounds spent on perfecting and marketing them actually works.
It’s especially difficult to avoid them as it gets closer to Christmas. It may be only November but the number of food advertisements have started to ramp up while every fast food outlet is working hard to heavily promote their festive menu. Not to mention the competing holiday drinks packed with sledge loads of sugar that they want you to wash everything down with. Despite this, the sight of people carrying brightly coloured holiday themed coffees., drinks and shakes has become ubiquitous. Do you want to be the only one out there not accessorising with this year’s Caramel Nutcracker Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Mocha or Gingerbread Latte? The supermarkets are no better and ultra-processed Christmas party food features on every aisle while mountains of mince pies have never been more strategically placed. Even the traditionally safe confines of the frozen veg sections have been invaded by more festive versions that are highly sweetened with honey, maple butter and glucose syrup. It’s there for the taking even when you are not looking for it.
Though labelling this all as an addiction to ultra-processed junk food is quite the misnomer. Clearly, food and eating is not something you could ever stop for good. And what the report emphasises and is apparent to anyone working in healthcare is that this so-called junk food addiction is less about a nationwide compulsive desire and more about access to affordable healthy food. Which means that until you address the root causes of why so many people have to resort to eating ultra-processed food there is little they can realistically do to stop.
Fortunately the new Labour government is showing signs that it will take some action towards addressing the obesity crisis and levels of chronic ill health. Some of the early proposals such as extending the sugar levy on sweetened drinks could be a good place to start. I would suggest they consider including all milk drinks because those containing 75% milk are currently exempt. But like sugary fizzy drinks, highly sweetened milk shakes, flavoured milks and milky coffees will only decide to reformulate to reduce their sugar content if legislation and the potential loss of profits encourages them to. In any case, changing the food system in the UK is going to take much time and long-term investment to reduce our consumption of ultra-processed unhealthy food. In the meantime, all anyone can do is try their best to eat a nutritious healthy diet based on their budget whilst being fully aware of the health risks of having a diet high in sugar, salt and fat. And unfortunately for many this means their diet is still going to continue to include an overreliance on ultra-processed food.
With all that said here is an easy healthy recipe for the upcoming festive season that’s far cheaper and tastier than any version in the supermarket aisles. This Spinach dip contains cottage cheese and spinach and is so moreish that you may find yourself going back for more.
