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The Hill
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
On ultra-processed foods, let's move beyond talk
With Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly calling out Big Food, ultra-processed foods are finally entering the national spotlight. But the conversation risks becoming politicized, and that would be a mistake. The health harms of ultra-processed foods are becoming increasingly documented, yet public discourse too often gets bogged down in politics rather than advancing solutions. What we need now is action. For decades, ultra-processed foods — cheap, palatable, shelf-stable products engineered for maximum consumption — have dominated the American diet. Originally developed during World War II to provide affordable, long-lasting rations, these foods have since morphed into something far more extreme. What began as a wartime necessity evolved into a profit-driven industry built on super-sized portions, synthetic additives, and relentless marketing. Today, these hyper-engineered products comprise more than 73 percent of the U.S. food supply, according to Northeastern University's Network Science Institute. Conditions once rare in children, such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, are now rising, especially in low-income and minority communities where ultra-processed foods are often more accessible than nutritious alternatives. We are seeing mental health suffer too. Emerging research on the gut-brain connection suggests that additives and refined carbohydrates in ultra-processed foods may disrupt the gut microbiome, contributing to increased rates of anxiety, stress, and depression. The consequences go far beyond individual health. The U.S. obesity epidemic costs an estimated $173 billion annually, straining our healthcare system and undercutting national productivity. Our food system, reliant on ultra-processed foods, has created a vicious cycle. We produce foods that drive obesity, then market expensive GLP-1 drugs to treat it. Now we're even engineering new foods designed to be eaten alongside the drugs. Meanwhile, patients absorb the costs — physically, financially, and emotionally. But it doesn't have to be this way. Based on original research at Princeton including a nationally representative survey of over 2,300 Americans, expert interviews, participation at the World Food Forum in Rome, and international case studies, there are concrete, nonpartisan steps we can take to sidestep gridlock and break this cycle. First, the U.S. needs a clear federal definition of ultra-processed foods to guide policy and consumer understanding. Countries like Brazil have led the way by incorporating such definitions into their national dietary guidelines, explicitly warning against ultra-processed foods. In Italy, local governments have even stepped up with food policy councils to drive change. Without a consistent federal standard, consumer confusion persists and harmful products continue to slip through regulatory cracks. Next, implementing standardized front-of-package labeling that draws from Latin America's bold warning icons and Europe's color-coded Nutri-Score can help consumers quickly identify highly processed products. Evidence from places like Chile and France shows these systems not only influence consumer behavior but can also push manufacturers to reformulate their products. We must also formally recognize food addiction as a public health issue. This would open the door to expanded nutrition research, dedicated support services, and stronger marketing regulations, especially to protect children from predatory advertising. Countries like South Korea and the U.K. have led the way: South Korea restricts fast food near schools through 'Green Food Zones,' and the U.K. is banning junk food ads on television before 9 p.m. and across digital platforms. But in some parts of the U.S., there is already momentum underway at the state and local level. Initiatives in both red and blue states, like Texas's proposal to mandate warning labels for specific ingredients and California's push for additive bans, show that food policy reform can transcend partisan divides. California's actions have already prompted other states, including Illinois, Florida, Arizona, and Utah, to advance similar measures. This patchwork of state leadership is starting to drive industry reformulation and set the stage for broader national change. Improving food literacy and nutrition education is essential to building foundational understanding of health and food systems. Japan's Shokuiku policy and Finland's Tasty School program show how school meals can serve as nutrition education, fostering healthy habits early. Requiring U.S. schools, hospitals, and other public institutions to prioritize minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods would protect vulnerable communities and shift national demand toward real food. Perhaps the most innovative recommendation derived from my research is for the U.S. to adopt data-driven tools like GroceryDB and Food Compass 2.0 to improve food labeling. These AI-powered systems analyze products beyond traditional nutrient content, assessing the degree and type of processing to provide a clear, science-based score. Unlike existing labels, which often overlook the complexity of ultra-processing, these tools can help consumers easily identify truly unhealthy foods and encourage manufacturers to reformulate products. While still evolving, such technology holds promise to make food labels more transparent and accurate, offering a powerful complement to policy efforts. Still, tackling the ultra-processed food crisis will require more than isolated reforms. It demands a coordinated, cross-sector effort. The government must formally recognize UPFs, invest in stronger regulations and nutrition research, and empower localities to lead. Industry must shift its value proposition toward health, investing in tools like AI-powered nutrition scoring and product reformulation. And at the grassroots level, youth activism and community-based initiatives can drive the cultural change needed to make access to nutritious food the norm, rather than the exception. The evidence is clear, and the political moment is ripe. If enough people understand and care about the harms of ultra-processed foods, pressure from below can compel action from above. The question is no longer whether we can act, but whether we will. Lina Singh is a Fulbright Scholar and recent graduate of Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. She is an incoming master's student at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. Nicole Avena, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist specializing in nutrition, addiction, and eating behavior and an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan seeks FAO support
Listen to article Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to review ongoing collaboration and explore future opportunities in Pakistan's agriculture and livestock sectors. According to a statement released on Friday, the FAO delegation was led by Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director General and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division. Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan, who is completing her tenure, also attended the meeting. The minister appreciated FAO's support since 1947, now covering projects in 94 districts. He welcomed FAO's new Global Work Plan, approved by 194 member states, and expressed interest in its implementation. Hussain said Pakistan is committed to revitalising its agriculture and livestock sectors to boost food security and exports. He reiterated the government's interest in mobilising foreign investment and appreciated FAO's willingness to support such initiatives under the new work plan. Tiensin acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in disease control, food safety, and export readiness. He praised the potential of Pakistan's livestock sector and recommended Brazil's model of transformation through research and innovation. The minister briefed the delegation on the newly formed National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), inspired by Egypt's model. To further this learning, Pakistan will send a technical delegation to Egypt to study the institutional mechanisms and best practices adopted there. He stressed the need to revive Pakistan's representation at FAO, which has been vacant since 2017, and reaffirmed commitment to strengthening the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in line with the Prime Minister's vision for science-led agricultural development. He also expressed interest in expanding collaboration with leading research institutions in China and Europe. FAO shared updates on upcoming global events, including the Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation and the World Food Forum.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Seeding Gender Empowerment: Women Farmers In Peru Contend With Climate Change
15 July 2025 Ácora, located in the southeast corner of Peru almost 3,800 kilometres above sea level, is one of the Peruvian regions which has been most impacted by climate change – endangering crop production and biodiversity in addition to worsening food insecurity. 'It was not like this before, the climate has changed a lot,' said Pascuala Pari, head of the Sumaq Chuyma Association in Ácora. Around the world, women farmers like Ms. Pari, who already face a series of intersectional challenges, are working tirelessly to secure their livelihoods despite an increasingly untenable climate situation. ' Women in particular shoulder the burden of food insecurity as traditional caregivers which is intensified during climate crises,' said Bochola Sara Arero, a youth representative from the World Food Forum, at a side event during the ongoing UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on Monday. Intersecting goals The forum in New York has been convened to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015 to promote global development for current and future generations. ' [The forum] is going to be a major way to assess how we're doing with respect to the critical issues of sustainability and achieving greater prosperity globally,' said Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), at a press conference for correspondents in New York on Tuesday. With only 18 per cent of these internationally agreed upon goals on track to being met by 2030, the Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent action and sustained multilateralism to address this gap. Mr. Guterres has also said that this forum is a unique opportunity to discuss the intersection between various goals, including the intersection between gender equality and climate change. A bipolar climate Last year in Ácora, dealing with a climate that oscillated between drought and torrential rains was next to impossible for the women who relied on the land. Crops would not grow and agrobiodiversity was under threat. In a country where 17.6 million people already experience food insecurity, this dual threat had the potential to wreak havoc on livelihoods. In response, Ms Pari and other women in Ácora formed seed banks. Not only do organizations like seed banks preserve indigenous agrobiodiversity, they also help sustain the livelihoods of women in the region. 'Our crops were in danger of extinction, but now people are harvesting again and we are changing that,' said Fanny Ninaraqui, leader of the Ayrumas Carumas Association. Seeds that are not planted can be traded or bartered with other seed bank owners. Over 125 varieties of native crops have now been preserved across the region. 'I am happy with my little seed bank … Now I have all kinds of quinoa: black, red, white. This supports me economically because I preserve and sell my products at local markets,' Ms. Pari said. Once shut, doors open for women farmers In addition to climate challenges, women farmers also face a lack of legal rights. Specifically, they often do not have titles to their land. According to the Secretary-General's Sustainable Development Report, released Monday, 58 per cent of the countries with available data lacked sufficient protection for women's land rights. 'Women's land rights are fundamental for women's voice and agency, livelihoods and well-being and resilience as well as for broader development outcomes,' said Seemin Qayum, policy advisor at UN Women. The in-depth report also noted that less than half of women had secure rights to land, with men being twice as likely to have land deeds and other protected property rights. [1] Experts say that insufficient legal protections not only negatively impact economic outcomes for women, they also sideline women's needs and voices in policymaking. Therefore, it is essential to institute legal protections which formally recognize women as farmers. 'When you are recognized as a farmer, a world of possibilities, a world of resources – opportunities for representation and rights – become available to you. Doors open,' said Carol Boudreaux, Senior Director of Land Programs at Landesa. Beyond legal protections While legal land rights are essential, they are not in and of themselves enough to empower rural women. 'Initiatives that aim to change discriminatory social norms and institutions are also needed,' said Clara Park, senior gender officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Women in Ácora recognize that it is not just climate change which is negatively impacting their livelihoods – they are also grappling with unequal social norms. 'When you are young and a woman, someone always tries to limit your progress,' Ms. Ninaraqui said. In Ácora, international and civil society organizations, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), have worked to help women establish their seed banks and ensure that these women have the capacity to manage them long-term. 'I can lead, I can teach what I have learned, now I feel I have this capacity,' Ms Pari said. Intergenerational knowledge Women like Ms. Pari and Ms. Ninaraqui are part of the Aymara indigenous community in Ácora. For them, the seed banks are a form of innovation which allows them to build upon indigenous knowledge regarding agrobiodiversity. 'We are recovering the seeds from our grandparents' time,' said Ms. Pari. And as they save these seeds, Ms. Pari said they are also thinking of the future. 'Today, I would tell more women to keep going, to not be discouraged by what others think, and to take initiative like I did,' said Ms. Pari.
