Did anyone watch "What are we feeding our kids?" on BBC1

[MarchXX]

Here's link.

i astounded that there has been little to no research of the effect of UPSs on our brains and bodies. The results on Chris (after one month) were dire indeed.

Chris's brain scans before and after were shocking but not surprising as UPF food manufacturers spend multi££££millions on research to find the perfect bliss point to skewer and keep new addicted consumers eating their products again and again.

I was interested in the huge increase in our consumption of UPF foods since 1980 but would have liked to see the difference from 1970 or 1960 because when I was a child growing up (in 60s) there was virtually no UPF foods in our home, all meals were cooked using fresh meat/fish, eggs, veg and fruit with some dried/tinned goods and no ready meals/takeaways. Eating out (or takeaways) was a very rare treat indeed and snacking between meals was frowned upon and not encouraged.

The representative from the food industry was, not surprisingly, reticent about their role in the deteriorating health of our nation's population. Nestle's success in infiltrating remote communities with their UPF-packed supermarket-boats and creating new addicted consumers (and an obesity epidemic) was an eye-opener but not at all surprising seeing as their role in exploiting breastfeeding mothers in third world countries is well known, too.

Anyway, did anyone watch it. What did you think?

Calcium carbonate is just chalk isn't it?

I think now it's incredibly scary how tampered with our food is. Even the very basics like flour. So desperate for cheap long lasting foor we have become, we now put up with it.

They used to put arsenic in flour didn’t they? Years ago.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

I haven't yet rtft so apologise if this has been discussed already - am a bit confused about some items and which group they should be in.

So in theory I understand that tinned fruit, jarred gherkins etc should be in g3 as traditional preserving methods. But looking at the tins/jars in my cupboard both the tinned fruit and the jar of gherkins contain firming agent calcium chloride. Obviously I wouldn't have this in my kitchen so does this mean that they are actually g4?

Where does cream cheese sit - mine has thickener locust bean gum and carageenan (the latter I understand from a pp is a common ingredient in ROI so that one is ok (?) but the bean gum? Does that make it UP?

Pitted black olives in brine also contain stabiliser ferrous gluconate - does that make them UP?

Does palm oil alone make something UP? My cream crackers are flour, palm oil, salt, bicarbonate of soda, yeast. Are they ok?

Is all chocolate UP because it contain soya lecithin?

I assume that raising agents such as sodium carbonates and diphosphates will be the same as what is in domestic baking powder - is that right? My BP has no ingredients listing.

Is citric acid ok or not?

I get dried mango as a healthier snack option for the dc but it contain preservative sulphur dioxide. Does that make it UP?

Are cornflakes containing barley malt extract and pantothenic acid UP? The bbc article linked way upthread lists cornflake as a non-UP cereal?

In theory it should be simple but (perhaps I'm in denial or a bit dense) it doesn't seem that simple in practice.

I cannot realistically removal all UPF from my families diets but I'd like to understand so that I can bring it down to a much lower level.

drwilliamli.com/processed-vs-ultra-processed-foods-which-are-okay/

Towards the end of the article- the more ingredients, the more processed. I don't think foods fall squarely into a UPF category. It's more of a scale depending on how much has gone into processing the food. IMO,cornflakes with barley malt extract is a processed food, not ultra processed food. But who knows. Better just to be mindful of what we're eating rather than strictly categorizing everything.

@MarchXX There were a couple of kids who did do stuff as a family, which was very refreshing. One of which went to a local park with entire family to let free butterflies they had grown from caterpillars - wonderful!

This is brilliant!

Watched this last night. Really worthwhile- insightful & shocking in equal measure. And I have no words for Nestle...!

I thought we ate quite healthily as a family but have realised we do have UPFs more than I thought/ more than we should. E.g.. frozen pizza or frozen fish & chips maybe twice a week.
I buy jar curry sauce & stir fry sauce too - I guess I need to look into making these from scratch (have done that with pasta sauce after seeing how much sugar was in shop bought ones).
It is hard though as limited time is a factor. Some days between school, work & kids activities we just need a quick fix so bunging a pizza into the oven ready in 10 mins is helpful. Though I realise the 'nutrition' is not...

@BewareTheBeardedDragon for n what I've just googled ( ie I'm no expert!) that is mandatory in most refined flours as calcium fortification. I know they add some B vitamins to bread in the UK too.

I plan to watch this but haven't yet.

I don't think my DC's have much UPF but maybe I'm kidding myself.

What exactly counts? Like they eat burgers, but not frozen ones- the butcher ones or the naice supermarket ones.

Are brioche buns that bad? I thought of them as just bread. Are we supposed to only give them homemade bread?

They eat yoghurts/ frubes - I thought they were ok for some calcium- they dont get desserts.

They do eat a lot of pizzas but again the fresh ones not frozen.

Fish fingers once a week- I know these arent good but they have proper fish every week too.

I posted about the bread fortification on the other thread. Oops.
Basically they have to add calcium and some B vitamins by law in the UK.

Do you know why?

I mean isn't it an indication about the lack.of integrity of the food itself? I.mean if you have to artificially add vitamins amd minerals then what's the point of the food

The programme was about the proportion of the very most processed foods in children's diets. Noone was saying eat only home made bread.

It was a public health measure at a time of poor diet and malnutrition. But yes the B vitamins are in whiter breads to replace those lost in refining the flour.

The calcium was because poor people ate bread but dairy was more expensive and harder to access in city slums.

Thank you 😊

Its probably completely back fired now. Now that people assume something is healthy because if all the added vitamins and minerals. Certainly a loophole that's now been exploited by the manufacturers.

Do you know how Easily these vitamins and minerals are absorbed and utilised by the body? I woukd assume its not as good fir you as in its natural form?

Modern cows, pasteurization and refrigeration have made milk more of a staple.

@Whatwouldscullydo

Do you know why?

I mean isn't it an indication about the lack.of integrity of the food itself? I.mean if you have to artificially add vitamins amd minerals then what's the point of the food

Vitamins and minerals are added to basic foodstuffs to make up for the lack of it in many peoples diets. It isn't that the food is lacking, it may not even have it naturally, it is to ensure supplementation to a subset of the population who may be lacking, it's a public health issue, like flouride in water.

We are still one of the only countries in the world to not add folic acid to flour..... not sure why we are so behind other than public resistance, which is odd when other vitamins are already added.

I don't think we have rampant beri beri so that's the point of these national fortification schemes.
Imo it's a good, let's face it the likes of Boris Johnson wouldn't be the one bothering to bring it in if it was a modern day issue.
I think we could fortify with vitamin D but the UK government cba.🤷

Oh yes folic acid I'd the prior obvious one of forgotten about.
Individual choice innit.

We are still one of the only countries in the world to not add folic acid to flour..... not sure why we are so behind other than public resistance, which is odd when other vitamins are already added

Maybe it's to do with out big business in medicine? Folic acid tablets must be a huge part if the income as isn't it now advised wonen take it before try become pregnant ?

Maybe it's to do with out big business in medicine? Folic acid tablets must be a huge part if the income as isn't it now advised wonen take it before try become pregnant ?

But they assumes the government are in cahoots with vitamin manufacturers?

Haven't read the whole thread but I had watched the programme and it was an eye opener. However, I've just lifted this from the website which has made me feel slightly better because I eat a lot of baked beans

'Some ultra-processed foods are healthier than others – wholegrain breakfast cereals, wholemeal sliced bread, tinned baked beans, and unsweetened soy or plant-based drinks, are all ultra-processed but have nutritional benefits. Similarly, ready-made pasta sauces, ready meals, spreads and sliced meats can be healthy'

Not read the full thread yet so apologies if I'm repeating this info. Yesterday I discovered a NOVA app where you can scan barcodes and it tells you if it is category 1, 2, 3 or 4. Very helpful.

I mean isn't it an indication about the lack.of integrity of the food itself? I.mean if you have to artificially add vitamins amd minerals then what's the point of the food

Flour has to be fortified, it’s a government initiative. Even your home made and artisan bread will be made with flour that has vitamins added.

But they assumes the government are in cahoots with vitamin manufacturers

Ha yes we should probably look at who benefits from having created a situation which now leads people to believe that you can achieve the same level of nutrients from a fish finger sandwich , crisps and a chocolate bar as you can from.a chicken stir fry, rice and vegetables.

Given that income from.cigarettes and alcohol contributes to the nhs , clearly an.unhealthy lifestyle is more beneficial to many.

And yes I know.smoking and related illnesses also cost the nhs alot but likes like that are never really made when it comes to how to get money and lots of it quickly.

@CatherineCawood what is the app called?