Is baking powder really an UPF?! Following on from last thread

[maybein2022]

Some might have been following the thread about UPF (ultra processed foods). It made me really think about a bit of an overhaul of our diets, although we are pretty good with main meals, snacks can be bad. So tonight I made the kids some homemade oat bars- all non UPF but then just out of curiosity I checked the Nova website and apparently baking powder is a UPF?! I mean obviously I know it’s better to bake my own stuff for the kids rather than buy chocolate or cake full of crap, but does baking powder actually count as an UPF?!

How much are you using though - I’m sure a teaspoon won’t do much harm.

Following with interest.

Does anyone have a link to the recent last thread? I saw it come up in active but didn’t have chance to take a look

I didn’t see the other thread but have always assumed it had more in common with industrial chemicals rather than food.

Well, I wouldn't have thought so unless you are fanatical about this whole thing. The clue is in the name Ultra. Baking soda is composed of two chemicals which produce CO2 - not harmful in any way. The things you need to watch out for are the things you wouldn't find in your cupboard at home

You can make baking powder using bicarbonate am of soda and cream of tartar. Google for ratios!

Some of that was extreme though - people listing humous as UPF. There is a scale of risk.

Houmous!! It's literally chickpeas garlic tahini and lemon, WTF is wrong with that?!

Exactly 🤷‍♀️ Does UPF mean anything that’s been in a blender or Magimix 😂

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4806023-to-ask-what-highly-processed-food-you-eat

other thread here (I was not the OP)

I agree about scale of risk- realistically I can’t cut it totally out of our diets so maybe cutting right back rather than out is key. Also as I mentioned on the other thread, it’s depressing that it takes so much time, effort and money to make sure you’re not buying and consuming UPF, some are of course obvious but some are not! But again, I guess, scale of risk…

Not sure about baking soda but hummus probably comes up on the Nova site as UPF because supermarket versions have rapeseed/sunflower oil in them (and possibly because of added salt) rather than because of the chickpeas, tahini etc and putting it through the food processor.

Yes, that's it - the added rapeseed/sunflower oil which is ultra processed. Hummus with the traditional ingredients is perfectly fine.

The majority from the supermarket also have rapeseed or other oil and a preservative, usually potassium sorbate.