How did ultra-processed foods take over, and what are they doing to us?
Sliced supermarket bread, ham, cheese, crisps, a fruit-flavoured yoghurt and a fizzy drink. If this sounds like a standard lunch, you\u2019re not alone. The average person in the UK gets more than 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods \u2013 otherwise known as \u2018industrially produced edible substances\u2019. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Chris van Tulleken about what ultra-processed foods are really made of, how they have become a major part of our diets, and the impact they are having on our health. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod