Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health

This is a great series. It's a shame that it didn't get traction here.

I was pleased to see that the third paper is about what we can do: "understanding commercial determinants, countering corporate power, and mobilising a public health response." They make the case that regulators have been captured by the UPF industry, which is true, but assume we get end the regulatory capture and make UPFs an unattractive option... what will people eat? People are hooked on UPFs. How are you going to get someone to switch from a diet of Coke and McDonalds burgers to nutritious foods?

I think one option is to make these foods less attractive. Prohibit colorants entirely (artificial and natural.) Require that they be served closer to room temperature. Tax them until they are uncompetitive with other foods. If you went to McDonalds and it was $40, the soda was clear and lukewarm, the burger was grey and cold... it might lose its appeal.

Another option is to slowly phase-in more requirements for foods to be less processed that apply universally. McDonalds can still exist, it just has to serve you healthy, real food.

The real problem, though, is that all of this is a political third rail. Bloomberg and de Blasio lightly touched it thirteen years ago (in NYC!), just restricting the _size_ of sodas, and that was controversial and failed. Any broader laws, across an entire state or country, would be very difficult.