Two-thirds of UK adults believe the next generation will suffer poorer health due to ultra-processed foods (UPF) and 39% would like to see them banned, a survey suggests.
About 59% of adults believe UPFs are “impossible to avoid” when shopping on a budget, the study for retailer Lakeland found.
Two-thirds (66%) are concerned about their effects on public health and 68% believe the Government should do more to protect people from them.
Two-thirds (66%) also think supermarkets should take more responsibility for the UPFs they sell, and 77% want clear warning labels on foods containing ultra-processed ingredients.
Three-quarters (74%) say children should be taught in school about the dangers of UPF and the importance of cooking at home.
The survey found that a quarter of adults (24%) do not know how to recognize the presence of UPF in food products.
It found that 31% have been cooking from scratch more in the last year, 35% more in the last two years and 44% in the last five years.
A fifth (19%) cook from scratch more regularly to avoid UPF, while 25% cook from scratch more to save money and 26% to get other health benefits.
However, 44% say they don't have time to cook from scratch, 16% think it's too complicated and 19% think it would cost too much.
Wendy Miranda, Lakeland customer brand ambassador, said: “Cooking from scratch and knowing exactly what goes into the food we eat has clear benefits.
“We encourage our customers to think about the benefits, from nutrition to mindfulness to improving overall energy levels to simply feeling a sense of personal accomplishment with each culinary creation.”
The survey follows global experts who warn that UPF is a major cause of the diet-linked “chronic disease pandemic,” and that food companies put profits before all else.
In an article published in the medical journal The Lancet in November, 43 scientists and researchers joined forces to argue that UPFs are “displacing” fresh foods and meals, worsening diet quality, and are linked to multiple chronic diseases.
Philip Toscano, including an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and premature death.
Examples of UPF include ice cream, processed meats, chips, mass-produced bread, some breakfast cereals, cookies, many convenience foods, and soft drinks.
UPFs often contain high levels of saturated fat, salt, sugar and additives, which experts say leaves less room in people's diets for more nutritious foods.
UPFs also tend to include additives and ingredients that aren't used when people cook from scratch, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, and artificial colors and flavors.
The dietary proportion of UPF remains less than 25% in countries such as Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and throughout Asia, but is 50% in the US and the UK, according to the research.
Mortar Research surveyed 2,000 UK adults in January.
