Many everyday foods are ultra-processed, meaning they are made with ingredients we wouldn’t usually use at home, such as artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, and emulsifiers. Examples include fizzy drinks, crisps, cookies, mass-produced bread, boxed macaroni and cheese, ready meals, and even some plant-based meat and cheese substitutes.

Ultra-processed foods are convenient and tasty, but they are often high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, while being low in nutrients. Eating too many of these foods can increase the risk of health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Studies also show that people who eat mostly ultra-processed foods tend to consume more calories than those who eat whole foods, which can lead to weight gain.

As these foods are designed to be highly palatable and easy to eat, they can also affect gut health, brain function, and even mental health, leaving less room in the diet for more nutritious options.

Bovaer: An Additive to Reduce Cow Methane Emissions

Some foods can affect our health or the environment in ways we don’t always notice. One example is Bovaer, an additive added to some dairy products to reduce the methane released by cows. It works by temporarily inactivating an enzyme in the cow’s stomach, which lowers their methane emissions.

Although Bovaer is considered safe for humans, it is not approved for organic farming because organizations like the Soil Association have not included it on their list of allowed additives. Some supermarkets, such as M&S, sell dairy products containing Bovaer, and companies like Arla Foods supply these products to stores including Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi.

In short, while additives like Bovaer may help reduce environmental impacts, it’s important to be aware of what goes into our food and the effects of ultra-processed foods on our health.