There has been a lot of discussion about the public health impact of ultra-processed foods in recent times. Nobody is saying that extending shelf life and reducing cost and scarcity by freezing, tinning or pasteurising foods is bad. [ Ultraprocessed foods: Do they affect gut health?Opens in new window ]The biggest criticisms of the science of ultra-processed food are that there’s no food that is “good” or “bad” – moderation and balance are what count. In 2018 it was estimated that UPF food accounted for 45.9 per cent of all food we ate in Ireland. [ New study claims ultra-processed food increases risk of health issues, including obesity and depressionOpens in new window ]We ourselves recently researched the business model of supermarket baked goods over a 30-year time span.

Source: The Irish Times January 18, 2026 07:31 UTC