Australia faces a mounting health crisis as ultra-processed foods now constitute nearly half of the average citizen's diet, according to a groundbreaking series published in The Lancet medical journal.
Global Health Emergency Declared
The comprehensive analysis found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly replacing healthy, whole foods worldwide, becoming a key driver in the escalating global burden of chronic diseases. Researchers identified Australia, alongside the UK and USA, as having among the highest consumption rates of these products, with UPFs comprising more than half of daily calorie intake for many populations.
Professor Mark Lawrence from Deakin University, a co-author of the series, warned that Australia has fallen behind international best practice in nutrition policy. "We have, at the moment, no national food and nutrition policy in this country," Lawrence revealed, noting the last comprehensive policy dated back to 1992.
Broken System Exposed
The research team analysed evidence from more than 100 scientific papers, establishing clear associations between high UPF consumption and increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Recent separate research from Massachusetts General Hospital suggested potential links between ultra-processed foods and precursors of bowel cancer, particularly concerning given Australia has the world's highest rates of bowel cancer in people under 50.
Lawrence highlighted Australia's health star rating system as a "classic example of counterproductive policy." The system, developed with input from major food manufacturers, allows companies to replace problematic ingredients with ultra-processed alternatives while still achieving high ratings.
Pathway to Reform
The Lancet series calls for urgent, coordinated public policies and collective action to address the growing impacts of UPFs. The authors advocate for measures that support the availability and affordability of fresh and minimally processed foods while addressing socioeconomic inequalities that drive UPF demand.
Dr Philip Baker from the University of Sydney, a lead author in the series, emphasised the need for a "new vision" in Australia's food system that redistributes resources toward diverse local producers rather than transnational corporations.
A spokesperson for Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White confirmed that Australia's 2013 dietary guidelines are currently under review, including a systematic examination of ultra-processed food consumption and its impact on mortality and chronic disease risk.
