We eat way too much junk
Our appetite for fat, sugar and salt puts us near bottom of healthy diet league
IRISH people have some of the worst diets in Europe, new research has found.
A new report reveals that Irish adults are among the highest consumers of processed food.
For the latest study, researchers from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, analysed data on the eating habits of millions of people around Europe collected by the European Food Safety Authority.
The figures recorded how much of consumers’ daily energy intake was provided by ultra-processed foods. The researchers compared eating habits across 22 European nations and the UK, specifically their intake of ultra-processed food and drink (UPFD). These foods and drinks include products that are low in fibre and micronutrients, but high in saturated fats, salt and sugar, such as soft drinks, sweets, instant noodles and packaged bread.
The study ranked Irish men in sixth place regarding consumption of UPFD, with 31% of their energy intake coming from such foods. Irish women were in fifth place, with UPFD making up 35% of their diet.
The HSE’s clinical lead for obesity, Professor Donal O’Shea, said the issue must be tackled at source.
‘There’s a recently launched reformulation strategy which is to work with industry to try and reduce the amount of fat, sugar and salt that are manufactured. That kind of food is incredibly addictive,’ he said. ‘They manufacture this kind of food incredibly cheaply, and it’s hard to resist.’
He added that the long-term result of consuming high levels of UPFD are cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The results, which are published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that in Italy, ready meals, snack foods and fizzy drinks only make up about 14% of each person’s daily calorie intake.
In Europe overall, UPFDs contributed to an average of 25% of diets. The consumption of UPFDs across Europe is lower than those reported for the USA and Canada, reporting intakes of up to around 60% of energy intake.