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Ultraprocessed Foods Versus the Planet

Ultraprocessed foods have a heavy environmental impact.

Ultraprocessed foods

It’s not just our health that suffers when ultraprocessed foods are consumed too liberally, but also the health of our planet. In a research review published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, investigators in Australia determined that the environmental impact of ultraprocessed foods is larger than we may think.

The conclusion was that UPFs accounted for

  • 17%–39% of diet-related energy use;
  • 36%–45% of diet-related biodiversity loss;
  • up to 33% of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, land use and food waste; and
  • up to 25% of diet-related water use among adults (in a range of high-income countries).

Everything necessary to bring together all the ingredients in ultraprocessed products—from pesticides to packaging—gives them a giant environmental footprint. All the more reason to bring mostly whole foods into your kitchen!

See also: Healthy Food, Healthy Planet


Matthew Kadey, MS, RD

Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.

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