The DOI matches its Crossref record; 64 of the 68 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 38 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.
Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation
Open accessAbstract
The nutritional reformulation of processed food and beverage products has been promoted as an important means of addressing the nutritional imbalances in contemporary dietary patterns. The focus of most reformulation policies is the reduction in quantities of nutrients-to-limit – Na, free sugars, SFA, trans -fatty acids and total energy. The present commentary examines the limitations of what we refer to as ‘nutrients-to-limit reformulation’ policies and practices, particularly when applied to ultra-processed foods and drink products. Beyond these nutrients-to-limit, there are a range of other potentially harmful processed and industrially produced ingredients used in the production of ultra-processed products that are not usually removed during reformulation. The sources of nutrients-to-limit in these products may be replaced with other highly processed ingredients and additives, rather than with whole or minimally processed foods. Reformulation policies may also legitimise current levels of consumption of ultra-processed products in high-income countries and increased levels of consumption in emerging markets in the global South.
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This commentary argues that reformulating ultra-processed foods to reduce nutrients-to-limit (Na, free sugars, SFA, trans fats, energy) has inherent limits and risks, because it ignores other processed ingredients and can legitimize continued ultra-processed food consumption. It calls for broader approaches, including wholefood reformulation and policies to reduce ultra-processed food consumption.
Key findings
- Nutrients-to-limit reformulation targets only Na, free sugars, SFA, trans-fatty acids and total energy, but ultra-processed foods also contain other potentially harmful processed ingredients and additives not usually removed during reformulation.
- Reformulation can lead to “mal-substitution,” where nutrients-to-limit are replaced with other refined, reconstituted or chemically modified ingredients, such as non-caloric sweeteners, modified starches, or fully hydrogenated/fractionated/interesterified oils; historical examples include trans fats replacing saturated fats and sugar replacing fat in low-fat products.
- Reformulation policies may legitimize ultra-processed products and their manufacturers, especially in emerging markets in the global South where packaged food consumption is growing rapidly; in such contexts, per-product nutrient reductions may be cancelled out by overall increases in ultra-processed food consumption.
- Alternatives include wholefood reformulation, restricting or reducing ultra-processed products, and policy examples such as Brazil and Uruguay dietary guidelines advising against replacing minimally processed foods with ultra-processed products, and Chile’s labelling/advertising standards where products with at least one black symbol cannot be advertised to children or sold in schools.
Methods
- Design: a commentary/conceptual analysis examining the limitations and potential risks of nutrients-to-limit reformulation policies, particularly for ultra-processed foods.
- Data/sample: no empirical sample or systematic dataset is reported; the analysis draws on existing literature, policy examples and prior classifications.
- Main analysis: the authors introduce a classification of reformulation practices—nutrients-to-limit reformulation, positive-nutrient reformulation, and wholefood reformulation—and argue that nutrient-focused reformulation is insufficient for improving the nutritional quality of ultra-processed products.
Limitations
- The paper does not state formal limitations.
- Evident from the text: it is a commentary rather than a systematic review or empirical study, so it presents no new quantitative data or formal evaluation of reformulation outcomes.
- Evident from the text: the policy examples and historical cases are selective and illustrative, and the authors do not systematically examine changes in ingredients before and after nutrients-to-limit reformulation.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
25 Not checked yet · 22 Own interpretation
In the paper
“Some forms of processing strip wholefoods of some of their nutritious components (40) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [40] source
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The sources of nutrients-to-limit in these products may be replaced with other highly processed ingredients and additives, rather than with whole or minimally processed foods.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The focus on nutrients-to-limit within reformulation policies is an extension of the way nutrients and nutrient profiling remain the primary lens of analysis within nutrition science.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: unclear — It is unclear whether it could be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“These products are the main driver of the excessive intake of nutrients-to-limit in many people's diets around the world (17) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [17] source
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Beyond these nutrients-to-limit, there are a range of other potentially harmful processed and industrially produced ingredients used in the production of ultra-processed products that are not usually removed during reformulation.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
In the paper
“The focus of most reformulation policies is the reduction in quantities of nutrients-to-limit -Na, free sugars, SFA, trans-fatty acids and total energy.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [18] source
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in several countries have found a positive association between ultra-processed food consumption and obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and dyslipidaemia (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
What the sources say
plaincorrelational- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Yet this nutrient focus has tended to obscure and hinder research into the health impacts of food processing and processed food products.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: unclear — It is unclear whether it could be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
In the paper
“Another concern with current reformulation policies is that they may serve to legitimate, endorse and even promoterather than significantly challengethe consumption of ultra-processed foods (54) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [54] source
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Reformulation policies effectively provide positive endorsement for the consumption of (reformulated) ultra-processed products, as long as these reformulated products have met the required single-nutrient goals.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: unclear — It is unclear whether it could be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
- It may state two separate claims as one. 16
- Probably not a substantial claim. 4
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Reformulation policies may also legitimise current levels of consumption of ultraprocessed products in high-income countries and increased levels of consumption in emerging markets in the global South.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: unclear — It is unclear whether it could be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“For example, there is evidence linking highly refined flours and starches to increased glycaemic load and detrimental impacts on blood cholesterol levels (23,41) ;”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [23] source
- Not checked yetcites [41]
plaincorrelational- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“The nutritional reformulation of processed food and beverage products has been promoted as an important means of addressing the nutritional imbalances in contemporary dietary patterns.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“Reformulation has been promoted by many nutrition experts, governments, international agencies and food corporations as an important means of addressing the nutritional imbalances in contemporary dietary patterns (1)(2)(3)(4) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Abstract
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [1] source
- Not checked yetcites [2]
- Not checked yetcites [3]
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim.
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Food corporations may thereby maintain their access to emerging markets in the South and their social licence to operate and expand within them.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: unclear — It is unclear whether it could be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“However, it is a different story in emerging markets in the global South, where the distribution and consumption of ultra-processed foods continue to grow rapidly, resulting in the displacement of traditional, freshly prepared and minimally processed meals (57)(58)(59) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
What the sources say
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“It is also evident in the trend towards 'clean labelling', whereby manufacturers seek to avoid adding some artificial flavours or preservatives to their products, as well as adding some whole grains to their products (61) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [61] source
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“These substitute ingredients may themselves be of minimal nutritional value and may even be harmful in large quantities.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Reformulation and the mal-substitution of ingredients
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Beyond the defensive strategy of reformulating their products to reduce nutrients-to-limit, food corporations are also fortifying and 'functionalizing' these same products, and marketing them as addressing micronutrient deficiencies and providing targeted health benefits (26) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [26] source
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“For example, the national dietary guidelines in Brazil and Uruguay now explicitly refer to the category of ultra-processed foods and advise the population not to replace minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations with ultra-processed food and drink products (65,66) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [65] source
- Not checked yetcites [66]
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Such more comprehensive reformulation is already being selectively carried out by some food companies, and is evident in the increased availability of premium packaged foods and fast-food/ restaurant meals.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [61] source
plaincorrelational- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Their compliance with any government-endorsed nutritional standards may also protect corporations from the threat of future litigation.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: fails — It may be too vague to check against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Aside from any intrinsic harmful effects, these ingredients may also play a role in creating products that are hyper-palatable, rapidly consumable, cheap, durable and possibly addictive (43,44) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The nutritional qualities and characteristics of ultra-processed foods
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“However, convenience premium products often cost more and therefore may not be as affordable to those on low incomes who already consume the poorest-quality diets (62) .”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
What the sources say
- Not checked yetcites [62] source
hedgedconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
None of the sources cited for this claim have been checked yet.
In the paper
“Importantly, any products carrying at least one black symbol cannot be advertised to children nor sold in schools in Chile.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: unclear — It is unclear whether the paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Reformulation policies can not only create political legitimation for ultra-processed products, but also for the food manufacturing and service corporations that produce them.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > The legitimation of ultra-processed foods and dietary patterns
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: passes — The paper gives a reason why it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“These trends towards minimally processed ingredients point to the maturing of the packaged and fast-food industries in some markets and the growing consumer demand for better-quality foods.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Beyond nutrients-to-limit reformulation
hedgeddirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: fails — The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“However, in the case of ultra-processed foods that are primarily constructed out of sources of nutrients-to-limit and other highly processed ingredients, the substantial reduction of nutrients-to-limit poses great technological and economic challenges for manufacturers and will not necessarily result in the production of nutritious products.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Reformulation and the mal-substitution of ingredients
plainconditional- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Yet there have not been systematic examinations of the changes in ingredients before and after nutrients-to-limit reformulation.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Reformulation and the mal-substitution of ingredients
plain- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: fails — The paper may give no reason why it holds.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“These substituted ingredients are also intended to perform a similar role to salt/sugar/fat in maintaining the hyper-palatability and cheap cost of food products, and to thereby maintain the high levels of consumption of the reformulated products.”
§ Ultra-processed foods and the limits of product reformulation > Reformulation and the mal-substitution of ingredients
plaindirect- Asserted: passes — The authors put it forward as true.
- Checkable: passes — It can be checked against evidence.
- Load-bearing: passes — The paper’s conclusions depend on it.
- Based: unclear — It is unclear why the paper says it holds.
It may state two separate claims as one.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“For example, 'cutting red-tape' agendas have emerged in many high-income countries, with potential to impede new UPF regulations 194 .”
From Ultra‐processed foods and the nutrition transition: global, regional and national trends, food systems transformations and political economy drivers (2020) · cites this paper as [194]
In the citing paper
“Although there is heterogeneity in health associations among UPF subgroups (23), and some food products reformulated for schools may contain lower sodium, fat, and calories, or more whole grains than similar items sold elsewhere, these “healthier” reformulated items may legitimize the consumption of UPFs (24).”
From Food Service Directors’ Knowledge and Beliefs About Ultraprocessed Foods in California’s San Joaquin Valley Schools (2026) · cites this paper as [24]
Citations
Cites
The UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA food classification and the trouble with ultra-processing
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BackgroundDietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
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“…the limitations of the Australian Health Star Rating System to support healthy choices in agreement with the ADGs 56 and the limits of the ultra-processed food reformulation to address unhealthy diets 57 reinforce the need for targeted strategies to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods.”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Scrinis, G., & Monteiro, C. A.
- Affiliations
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Scrinis, Gyorgy
- Venue
- Public Health Nutrition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2017-07-13
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 247-252
- ISSN
- 1368-9800 (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2727
- PMC
- PMC10261094
- OpenAlex
- W2736154720
- Semantic Scholar
- 62e90626b36fb505d19b39d03e3f19aac41e844c
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 12.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Public Health Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2015/, 15/14900-9)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Nutrition, Health, and Society Studies
- Keywords
- ultra-processed foods, sodium reduction, free sugars, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, energy content, food additives, beverages, dietary habits, emerging markets
- MeSH terms
- Diet, Food Analysis, Food Handling, Humans, Nutrition Surveys, Nutritive Value, Nutrition Policy, Fast Foods
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