The global impact of ultra-processed foods

The global impact of a series of ultra-processed foods - The Lancet Group / cancer, , Oncology, Phil Baker, The Lancet Group, ultra-processed foods

The Lancet team shared the article on LinkedIn:

From page to policy impact: The Lancet series on highly processed foods and human health

"Recognizing The Lancet's role in global health and its agenda-setting power – to support something we know is important, the Lancet series was an important step."

Dr. Phil Baker is co-author of the Lancet series on nutrition and human health.In a virtual call on the influence of the series, he published a list of political actions since its publication last November.In Spain, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced that it will remove processed food (UPF) from food provided to children in hospitals.In San Francisco, city prosecutors cited a series of related cases against some major UPF manufacturers.Citing the series, the French National Assembly proposed a new law on labeling to identify processed foods.

'And this is only in a few months', Dr. Baker said excitedly.

The series comes at a time of new research into 'Big Food', the sustainability of food systems and most importantly, those marketable indicators of health.Combining the best available evidence, the main findings of the Series can be summed up in one insulting sentence: the rise of recently processed food poses a major risk to public health.

In three articles, the series assesses the scientific, political and policy dimensions of UPFs.43 authors contributed.

"You're trying to build a team that's globally representative and gender equal, or close to it," Baker said of the collaboration. He continued, "You want to bring that diversity of perspectives.

Peer and editorial reviews provide critical and complementary input from an external expert perspective.Together, they provide clarity, place new work in the overall context of the evidence, and prevent over-interpretation.

As Sabine Kleinert, deputy editor of The Lancet and managing editor of the series, explains, "UPF is a topic fraught with debate. Even the term 'ultra-processed food' is controversial. For this reason, we [editors and reviewers] challenge authors to engage more readily in the scientific debate in the field."and acknowledge the uncertaintyAuthors sometimes feel that this admission weakens their arguments.But it is important to unite people and promote understanding.It strengthens credibility.'

Although the social network has memes about 'Reviewer Two', the famous critic, Baker gives his opinion: 'You realize that when reviewers and editors fire you, they do it with a good cause and they have good interests at heart.I think this is a big change in the attitude of researchers that they should understand - not to perceive the comments of the editor and his colleagues as an attack.'

"When you are surprised by reviewers and editors, they do it in good faith [...] I think this should change the way researchers think - not see editorial and peer reviews as an attack, but as an opportunity to reflect and refine their arguments..."

Baker emphasizes that the project is 'not done' by the reception.'This is where the Lancet succeeds, through the quality of its communications team that publishes the series, the reach of journalists and the creation of important messages, publications, social media and infographics. This is what made the series so powerful.So be prepared to work hard once the listing is green.'In just two weeks, the listing has garnered over 1,500 international posts and thousands of views.

Any other advice for potential list writers?"Be clear about why you're doing it," says Baker.

Shortly after publication, the authors held a meeting, the main agenda item of which was: What's next?"There's a big problem with doing the Lancet series," says Baker. "It raises more questions.But creating these wonderful new lines of research—the new unanswered questions and innovations we're currently exploring—is a great problem.

Read the full Lancet series on ultra-processed foods and human health.

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Another OncoDaily article on The Lancet.