Ultra-Processed People The Science Behind Food That Isn’t Food Chris van Tulleken

Why is it so hard to stop eating your favorite chips? What are the implications of supermarkets containing aisle after aisle of sodas, frozen meals, and packaged snacks—and only tiny produce sections?In Ultra-Processed People, professor and infectious disease doctor Chris van Tulleken argues that ultra-processed food—everything from breakfast cereals to fast food, candy, and lunch meats—is destroying our health and our planet. He claims that ultra-processed food isn’t really food at all; rather, it’s akin to an addictive substance that tricks us into eating more and more while simultaneously increasing our risk of developing a host of diseases. Plus, the way ultra-processed food is made harms the environment and contributes significantly to climate change.Our guide explores van Tulleken’s arguments and his recommendations to counteract the effects of ultra-processed food. We’ll also provide context for his claims from the perspective of nutritional science, statistics, and other influential books on processed food, including The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and Fast Food Nation.