Children are increasingly consuming ultra-processed foods, which is damaging their health, growth and psyche. This is the conclusion of a UNICEF report on the role of so-called ultra-processed products in the daily lives of children and young people. The report is based on a series of studies recently published in the medical journal The Lancet, writes the German public media ARD.
Ultra-processed foods are often a combination of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, industrial starches and numerous additives such as emulsifiers, colorings or flavorings. According to the report, many children around the world are exposed to them from the first years of their lives.
These foods are profitable, but they are not suitable for children
Many of the industrially produced additives are highly processed, and even young children living in extreme poverty often consume sugary drinks: in the 11 countries included in the study, this applies to between 10 and 35 percent of children under the age of five. Consumption increases with age: 60 percent of teenagers consume sweets at least once a day. In many industrialized countries, more than half of the daily calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods, the German public media reports.
The goal of the manufacturers is one: for children to consume their foods again and again. According to the UNICEF analysis, these foods are profitable for the industry, but they are not suitable for children. The ingredients change the texture and extend the shelf life. They aim to make snacks, cereals, yoghurts or ready meals as soft, sweet or flavoursome as possible, making them as easy to eat as possible and making children want them again and again. But too much sugar damages not only teeth but also metabolism: it causes a strong release of insulin in the body, which favors the accumulation of fat and in the long term increases the risk of diabetes. According to UNICEF, since 2000 the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight has doubled: in 2025, for the first time, there were more overweight children than underweight children.
Both overweight and undernourished
On the other hand, too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure and puts a strain on the kidneys - especially in children, UNICEF points out. Refined starches cause a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar, which stimulates appetite. Emulsifiers can disrupt children’s microbiomes and cause inflammation.
The effect is twofold, the report says: ultra-processed foods lead to obesity because they are high in calories and easy to consume. But they also lead to malnutrition because they are low in vitamins and minerals and crowd out whole foods. Studies have also shown a link to chronic growth disorders, depression, hyperactivity and problems with school performance.
Cheap sugary products are expensive
Although ultra-processed foods often seem cheap at the supermarket checkout, in the long run they are expensive: for many families, the costs later increase indirectly through more frequent visits to the doctor, higher drug costs and diseases related to poor nutrition.
The problem is not due to the wrong decisions of individual families, writes UNICEF, but to aggressive marketing and a food environment dominated by corporations. The majority of young people around the world are constantly exposed to advertisements for soft drinks, snacks or fast food.
Schools, sports facilities and kindergartens are often inundated with sponsorship deals with ultra-processed products. According to UNICEF, possible solutions could be a complete ban on advertising for these types of products, clear warnings on their packaging, as well as a consistent ban on ultra-processed foods and sponsorship in schools, ARD also points out.
Author: Martin Ganzlmeier (ARD)