[Closed] Finally something the UK can be proud of...

BINNERS!!!!!

And it's only going to get better when we sign our comprehensive Free Trade deal with the USA. Just think of the luxuries!

Cheez Whiz

Kraft Cheez Slices

Velveeta

Goober

Hostess Twinkies

Etc., etc.

The list is endless. Bring on the brave new world of Post-European Britain.

This Bud's for you!

*boaks*

I wonder what the stats are for the US

Ultra-processed is like ultra-marathon or ultraviolet though, so that means you get mega fit and top up your tan.

As soon as I saw "ultra" processed I knew it would be a hand wringing snobby Guardian piece.

There's a cross-ver with the recent "Noodles" thread

“If you have instant noodles that are essentially based on oils and starch and additives, you are not eating real noodles."

Does anyone who eats them actually care?

I wonder what the stats are for the US

If my experience of trying to find actual food in midwest supermarkets are anything to go by, almost 100 percent. We lived off twinkies and weird sugary bread for most of our roadtrip.

That's more a demonstration of our growing inequality. If you need to work long hours just to get by cheap processed food is where it's at.

The Brazilian chap carrying out the study has 'form' for a lack of rigour in method and application. Bread is an ultra-processed food by his definition (not just sliced wrapped plant bread). More on that here Part two is worth read too.

lack of rigour in method and application

Don't disturb my caricature sketching with such things as 'critical method'. I am perfectly happy with my prejudices as they are, thanks.

You're not going to like my edit then! 🙂

Bread is an ultra-processed food by his definition

Of course it is.

It's the original processed food.

Does anyone who eats them actually care?

Nah, folk who eat them are either too wasted to care or Students.

Agree there's more to it.

Almost every Indian colleague I've worked with brings in home cooked food to re-heat at lunchtime.  But who's cooked it?  The wife, at home all day cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids.

Of course it is.

It’s the original processed food.

Yes, but is it ultra-processed? Really?

Bread is an ultra-processed food by his definition

Depends if you are talking "Chorleywood process" crap or proper bread.

I saw a chart the other day demonstrating how 10 major conglomerates produced over 90% of the world's food. Very little of it was what I would call food.

All bread not just the sliced and wrapped stuff SOM

I take it you mean that turning wheat into flour makes it "ultra processed" or is there something else?

It may taste crap but is it actually bad for us?

It may taste crap but is it actually bad for us?

Depends on your personal circumstances, processed food (ultra is a pointless inflammatory term) is synonymous with high fat and sugar level and low fibre the makers 'hide' 'sneak' or whatever food bores like to say into them. Oh also chemicals loads of them, you'd never find a chemical in your organic farm fresh artisan gluten free soy cheese.

There's good and bad, like most things, read the box and decide for yourself.

The one serious worry I’d have about visiting the USA again (apart from getting shot) is that I might actually poison myself by eating what the Americans refer to as ‘food’...

How come when mercans come over here they are always complaining that they can't find decent food and survive on M&S sarnies?

It may taste crap but is it actually bad for us?

Depends on your personal circumstances, processed food (ultra is a pointless inflammatory term) is synonymous with high fat and sugar level and low fibre the makers ‘hide’ ‘sneak’ or whatever food bores like to say into them. Oh also chemicals loads of them, you’d never find a chemical in your organic farm fresh artisan gluten free soy cheese.

There’s good and bad, like most things, read the box and decide for yourself.

So why is there no obvious correlation between the OPs map and my map?

There is also a link to how reliant a country is on imports, no? Fresh food is more affordable, and easily available, when you grow lots of it.

So why is there no obvious correlation between the OPs map and my map?

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Does you map have an 'X' that marks the spot?</span>

Bbbbuuuutttt..

We’re a nation of Farmers n Shop Keepers innit.

🤦‍♀️🧟‍♂️

I've yet to see how processed food is cheap, convenient yes but always seems expensive to me for what you get.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender our monster munch or our ginsters.

I once took the ferry from Stornaway to Ullapool and found myself stunned at the fantastic quality of food on offer in the cafeteria.

Having been used to the typical English ferry experience of lukewarm over-fried eggs and beans with packet bread and the like, I wasn’t prepared for the restaurant-standard nosh on offer.

As I stood in the queue, the tremulous voice of an elderly American standing behind me asked “Excuse me sir, but what kind of food do they serve here?”

Resisting the urge to describe it as “probably some kind of collections of major food groups subject to requisite amounts of timed heat” I simply said I’d no idea I’d never been on the ferry before but suggested he examine the menu hung on the wall behind us.

Having been gobsmacked at the variety and quality on display after I reached the counter, I selected the steak and ale pie, chips and peas.

The pie was delicious. Tender tasty beef in a rich gravy inside golden, perfectly baked crusty pastry. Proper chips cooked from actual chopped potatoes with the crispy skin still on and fresh peas.

As I ate, I couldn’t help but feel desperately sorry for the American quartet of husband, wife and two daughters who stood next to the counter as I selected my food who were looking suspiciously at what was on offer and asking the counter staff - “Could we get a burger and fries?”

How come when mercans come over here they are always complaining that they can’t find decent food and survive on M&S sarnies?

Well "decent" depends on your viewpoint, but... a friend of mine lives in merca, she's a bit of a foody and likes to display photos of the amazing meals she's having. Today's looks spectacular and very real. So as with anywhere, you can get good real food there, it's simply that many choose not to.

I’ve yet to see how processed food is cheap, convenient yes but always seems expensive to me for what you get.

I agree but sadly we have generations whose only knowledge of cooking is how to switch on the microwave.

Monoculture wheat which has been ground to flour, then sieved to remove all fibre and leave pure white wheat flour IS definitely ultraprocessed. Regardless of whether that flour is then fortified or mixed with transfats or palm oil or sugar, or baked into hipster artisanal sourdough, it is basically the archetypal ultraprocessed food.

Just because it has become normal to eat bread, and there are 1001 different grades of bread product, doesn't mean there is an graduation in the raw material. It is such a highly refined carbohydrate it is basically the dietry equivalent of cocaine.

Bread basically marks the turn from paleolithic hunter gatherer man to early agriculture, sedentism and the appearance of wheat belly. Moderation in all things n all that.

I agree but sadly we have generations whose only knowledge of cooking is how to switch on the microwave.

My folks bought a microwave some years back that neither they, nor I, even after a considerable amount of time with the handbook, could make work! They took it back and got one with a simple dial on the front. Sodding load of rubbish!

My g/f refuses to use a microwave, even to reheat a mug of tea that’s gone cold; she subscribes to the real food properly cooked school of thought.

She was born in a pub in London, and brought up in a succession of pubs and hotels where her mum looked after the food side of things, she really does know how to cook. I haven’t eaten so well in my entire life as I have in the last year. 😁

I take it you mean that turning wheat into flour makes it “ultra processed” or is there something else?

No not just the flour production but the definition the Brazilian chap uses is down to the number of "ingredients" required to produce the finished article.

From the article linked to above from NOVA guidelines: "Ultra-processed food refers to any industrial food formulation that has more than five ingredients. These ingredients are likely to include ‘additives not commonly used in culinary preparations' ". More than 5 ingredients you'll not be eating homemade cake again!

A complete nonsense.

any industrial food formulation that has more than five ingredients.

More than 5 ingredients you’ll not be eating homemade cake again!

I agree, the definition is nonsense.

But that’s a really bad example of why it is  😆

More than 5 ingredients you’ll not be eating homemade cake again!

I think you've missed the definition.

Hyperbole chaps, hyperbole!

I'd love to know what the OP does that he is so unproud of...?