Alice Callahan

In the United States, about 5% of the National Institutes of Health budget goes towards nutrition research. And I think there's a growing recognition that we may need to invest more in understanding this issue if we're going to wrap our heads around what the problem is with these foods and what we could do about it.

In the United States, about 5% of the National Institutes of Health budget goes towards nutrition research. And I think there's a growing recognition that we may need to invest more in understanding this issue if we're going to wrap our heads around what the problem is with these foods and what we could do about it.

Well, I think scientists will always say we need more research, but we're seeing countries around the world who are saying we know enough to start taking action and we can't really afford to just let things continue as they are.

Well, I think scientists will always say we need more research, but we're seeing countries around the world who are saying we know enough to start taking action and we can't really afford to just let things continue as they are.

So we're seeing countries, for example, putting prominent warning labels on ultra processed foods or at least certain ultra processed foods, like big stop signs that clearly say on the front of the package, this is not a healthy choice. We're seeing countries limit marketing of ultra-processed foods to children. We're seeing them get ultra-processed foods out of school meals.

So we're seeing countries, for example, putting prominent warning labels on ultra processed foods or at least certain ultra processed foods, like big stop signs that clearly say on the front of the package, this is not a healthy choice. We're seeing countries limit marketing of ultra-processed foods to children. We're seeing them get ultra-processed foods out of school meals.

But here in the United States, when I talked to experts about these types of policies a couple years ago, they said it seems unlikely that a lot of those policies would really take off in the United States because we have a very strong food lobby. But things are really shifting, I think, in this conversation. We saw it during the presidential campaign. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

But here in the United States, when I talked to experts about these types of policies a couple years ago, they said it seems unlikely that a lot of those policies would really take off in the United States because we have a very strong food lobby. But things are really shifting, I think, in this conversation. We saw it during the presidential campaign. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

campaigned pretty heavily for himself and then for Trump on this idea of making America healthy again. And he talked a lot about... ultra processed foods and the effects that they're having on children's health. And I think you saw that resonate with a lot of people. And politicians on both sides of the aisle are taking an interest in this.

campaigned pretty heavily for himself and then for Trump on this idea of making America healthy again. And he talked a lot about... ultra processed foods and the effects that they're having on children's health. And I think you saw that resonate with a lot of people. And politicians on both sides of the aisle are taking an interest in this.

There was a hearing in the Senate last week where there were no senators who defended big food. It was kind of like, yeah, ultra processed foods are a problem and we need to change something in this country.

There was a hearing in the Senate last week where there were no senators who defended big food. It was kind of like, yeah, ultra processed foods are a problem and we need to change something in this country.

Yeah, I think it's really tough. And we are, again, talking about 70% of the food supply. And A lot of these foods, I, as a parent, do rely on. Things like breakfast cereal, honey nut Cheerios, my kids eat occasionally. But here's what I would say. We're still learning a lot.

Yeah, I think it's really tough. And we are, again, talking about 70% of the food supply. And A lot of these foods, I, as a parent, do rely on. Things like breakfast cereal, honey nut Cheerios, my kids eat occasionally. But here's what I would say. We're still learning a lot.

And one of the things we really don't know is whether or not all of these foods in this huge category of ultra-processed foods are bad for us. Like just because they're industrially produced, are they unhealthy? Probably not. And we're talking about a category that includes everything from soda to whole wheat bread.

And one of the things we really don't know is whether or not all of these foods in this huge category of ultra-processed foods are bad for us. Like just because they're industrially produced, are they unhealthy? Probably not. And we're talking about a category that includes everything from soda to whole wheat bread.

So the way I think about them is I'm looking at sort of degrees of ultra processing. Like if it's a whole wheat bread, that the only thing that makes it ultra processed is the inclusion of like one ingredient. food additive that I don't recognize. I'm less concerned about that.

So the way I think about them is I'm looking at sort of degrees of ultra processing. Like if it's a whole wheat bread, that the only thing that makes it ultra processed is the inclusion of like one ingredient. food additive that I don't recognize. I'm less concerned about that.

I think try to sort out the sort of worst offenders, which are sugary drinks, ultra-processed meats like hot dogs and chicken nuggets, and then foods that obviously don't provide us with very much nutrition and are difficult to stop eating. Those are my kind of red flags for the ultra-processed foods I'm going to try to avoid.

I think try to sort out the sort of worst offenders, which are sugary drinks, ultra-processed meats like hot dogs and chicken nuggets, and then foods that obviously don't provide us with very much nutrition and are difficult to stop eating. Those are my kind of red flags for the ultra-processed foods I'm going to try to avoid.