The role of clean label ingredients in the scope of ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been a topic of growing interest among consumers when buying food and checking labels in shops or at home.

This interest is also driven by policymakers, scientists, and health professionals, who recognize the need to better understand the potential health risks associated with the consumption of UPFs and, therefore, provide the population with positive dietary advice.

What is the definition of ultra-processed foods?

Almost all foods are processed to some extent. Different classification systems have been used to describe the degree of industrial processing of foods.

Different categories of foods are proposed in the NOVA food classification, which seeks to relate food processing as the primary driver of diet quality:

The consumption of UPFs has been associated with several metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

General dietary advice supports the principle of increasing the consumption of whole grains, plant-based proteins, fish, seafood, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and coloured fruits and vegetables. 

AM Nutrition Pea Concentrates – good for our health, good for the planet

Pea concentrates are clean label ingredients produced by air-classification, a natural fractionation process that involve no use of chemicals or water.

Furthermore, pea protein and pea starch concentrates represent an excellent ingredient alternative in reformulation of foods, such as in meat, bakery and pasta segments, where highly processed ingredients can be replaced by natural pea concentrates with excellent nutritional value and functionality.

Literature

Monteiro et al. (2019) Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutrition: 22(5), 936–941 doi:10.1017/S1368980018003762.

Please, contact us for information on product application work with AM Nutrition Pea and Faba Concentrates.