As plant-based diets gain popularity worldwide, a new study reveals a troubling trend: vegetarians and vegans may consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) than their meat-eating counterparts. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, found that participants following plant-based diets in the UK Biobank project had a slightly higher intake of UPFs compared to those who consumed modest amounts of meat or fish. The findings underscore the complexity of balancing dietary shifts toward sustainability with nutritional health.
Plant-based diets and processed foods
Researchers analyzed the eating habits of nearly 200,000 individuals, discovering that vegetarians consumed 1.3 percentage points more ultra-processed foods compared to meat eaters. For vegans, the difference was marginally smaller at 1.2 percentage points. The study concluded: “This UK-based study found higher UPF consumption in vegetarian diets and lower in diets with a modest amount of meat or fish.”
The findings highlight a critical challenge for consumers seeking to reduce meat consumption. Many plant-based diets in industrialized nations rely heavily on convenience foods, such as meat substitutes and ready-made meals, which are often laden with calories, saturated fats, sugars, and additives.
Defining ultra-processed foods
The term “ultra-processed foods” remains contentious among experts, though the NOVA classification system offers a widely accepted framework. According to NOVA, UPFs are industrially formulated items primarily made from substances extracted from food or synthesized in laboratories. These include frozen pizzas, instant noodles, sugary sodas, pre-packaged burgers, and sweetened cereals.
While such foods are engineered for convenience and appeal, they are often criticized for their health implications. A previous study linked high consumption of plant-based UPFs to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, further complicating the narrative that all plant-based diets are inherently healthier.
Daiya Foods
Despite concerns about UPFs, plant-based diets, when well-planned, offer significant health benefits, including reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. Conversely, high red meat consumption has been strongly associated with heart disease, cancer, and premature death. However, researchers note that the health risks of meat consumption are often tied to processed products rather than high-quality, unprocessed meat.
Industry influence and intimidation tactics
The ultra-processed food industry, much like tobacco and alcohol sectors, has faced growing scrutiny from researchers and advocates calling for stricter regulations. A recent study published in Health Promotion International highlights the tactics employed by these industries to undermine public health initiatives, silence advocates, and delay regulatory measures.
“We found intimidatory tactics towards advocates and researchers in every sector,” Karen A. Evans-Reeves, PhD from the University of Bath’s Department of Health and Tobacco Control Research Group, said in a statement.
“Public discreditation, followed by legal threats and action, complaints, and Freedom of Information Requests were most frequently mentioned and often attributed to health-harming industries.”
Evans-Reeves further explained that language used to discredit public health advocates often includes inflammatory and derogatory terms such as “zealots” or “extremists.” These attacks, though damaging, rarely deter researchers from continuing their work. “The dominant narrative was of perseverance,” she said, noting that most researchers remained committed to their advocacy despite facing public and legal challenges.
Urgency for public health reform
According to research published in The Lancet, ultra-processed foods, like tobacco and alcohol, contribute to a significant proportion of global non-communicable diseases. These conditions are responsible for nearly three-quarters of deaths worldwide. The findings underscore the urgent need for systemic change in food production and consumption patterns.
In a bid to address the global health crisis linked to poor diets and obesity, a coalition of investors managing more than $3 trillion in assets has urged leading food companies to disclose more information about the healthiness of their products. This group, coordinated by the responsible investment nonprofit ShareAction, sent a letter to the executives of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Mondelez International, and Kellanova. They are calling for these corporations to adopt internationally recognized nutrition standards and to annually report health metrics for their product portfolios.
Impossible Foods
The investor coalition includes Legal & General Investment Management, Nest, Pictet Asset Management, and Trinity Health. Together, these groups are advocating for companies to adopt Nutrient Profiling Models (NPMs), tools that evaluate the nutritional content of food and beverages. Systems such as Nutri-Score, the Health Star Rating, and the UK NPM were suggested as benchmarks.
Tom Sanders, senior ESG analyst at Nest, highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating, “The increased consumption of unhealthy products harms public health and could reduce worker productivity, creating externalities that can impact our long-term investment returns as a globally diversified investor. Food and drink companies must take responsibility in helping manage these risks by being more transparent, using internationally recognized nutrition standards as an important first step.”
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The coalition’s letter also emphasized the financial risks associated with an over-reliance on unhealthy product sales. The letter cited a study projecting that the global obesity epidemic could cost the economy $4 trillion annually by 2035, a figure comparable to the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Beyond economic risks, investors argue that failing to act on this issue exposes companies to reputational harm and regulatory scrutiny.
Thomas Abrams, co-head of health at ShareAction, framed the issue as both a public health crisis and a financial imperative. “By adopting a responsible investment approach to public health, investors can not only manage financial risks but also help more people to enjoy healthier lives for longer,” Abrams said in a statement.
Transparency and health metrics
The letter asks food and beverage giants to disclose the sales-weighted average NPM scores of their global portfolios annually. It also calls for transparency by product category, total revenue from NPM-assessable products, and the percentage of sales from healthier versus less healthy items. Investors argue that this level of transparency is essential for assessing corporate progress toward healthier offerings.
Some companies have already responded to pressure from ShareAction’s campaigns, which began in 2019. Unilever, Nestlé, and Tesco have implemented measures to report on and improve the health profile of their products. However, ShareAction noted that many companies are still lagging.
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The signatories contend that prioritizing healthier product development can drive long-term value for businesses, consumers, and investors alike. They argue that systemic risks, such as widespread health issues caused by poor diets, threaten economic productivity and growth. By contrast, producing and marketing healthier products can align corporate interests with broader social and economic goals.
The Long-Term Investors in People’s Health Initiative, a program within ShareAction, has been a driving force behind the coalition. It seeks to embed health considerations into responsible investment strategies, urging companies to recognize the intertwined relationship between consumer well-being and corporate sustainability.
As public scrutiny on the food industry grows, the demands outlined in the letter signal a broader shift toward accountability and transparency in addressing public health challenges. Whether the targeted companies will act on these calls remains to be seen, but the growing momentum among investors could make inaction increasingly untenable.
“We expect more transparency and better disclosures from the entire sector,” reads the letter. “By leading the way, you have a clear opportunity to meet the growing investor, consumer and regulatory demand for responsible business practices, and to lead in shaping fairer, healthier societies.”