Ultra-processed foods

Understanding the balance between potential benefits and risks and defining and managing the ethical considerations of such a complex, multifaceted issue is challenging. There is a need for a comprehensive assessment of the evidence, as also indicated in the Strategy for European Life Sciences, the Vision for Agriculture and Food and the Safe Hearts Plan.

In the light of the above, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies has been asked to provide an opinion on the topic of so-called 'ultra-processed foods', addressing the questions described below:

With regard to the Safe Hearts Plan, considering the Vision for Agriculture and Food and the Strategy for European Life Sciences, what ethical considerations should guide policy action in the EU on addressing ultra-processed foods (UPF) from production to consumption, including in relation to health protection, the right to access to adequate and nutritious food, consumer protection and autonomy, social justice, corporate responsibility, animal welfare and environmental impacts?

In answering this question, the following sub-questions should also be addressed:

• What ethical and societal challenges arise from the evidence on the patterns of UPF production and consumption across the EU and their links with social inequalities, and economic dimensions (e.g. retail offer, availability, labour, pricing, market concentration, data collection and ownership)?
• What ethical and societal challenges arise from the environmental externalities associated with UPF across their value chains in the frame of the European Union’s broader food-system sustainability and social equity objectives?

The Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission has also been asked to advise the Commission on other aspects of ultra-processed foods.