1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,080 The UK is facing rising levels of ill health. 2 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:16,400 The chronic disease escalation is primarily related to food intake, 3 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:17,840 The chronic disease escalation is primarily related to food intake, 4 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:19,840 there's no question about it. 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,280 There's growing concern about some of the food we eat. 6 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,680 We're consuming too much ultra-processed food. 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,280 People consuming more ultra-processed food 8 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,440 have higher risk of disease and death. 9 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,440 Panorama investigates the possible links 10 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:38,840 between artificial sweeteners and serious illness. 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,680 The higher the dose that was given, 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,800 the higher the numbers of tumours that we observed. 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,800 Exclusive new evidence linking food additives to cancer. 14 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,360 We observed significant associations between emulsifier intake 15 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,240 and increased risk of cancer overall. 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,280 And we ask, "Are regulators doing enough to keep our food safe?" 17 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:06,120 And we ask, "Are regulators doing enough to keep our food safe?" 18 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,000 This really is a future time bomb. 19 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,640 It's a complete disaster and we're sleepwalking into it. 20 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,480 This is Aimee, 21 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,840 and this is Nancy. 22 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,920 They're 24 and identical twins. 23 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,360 That's 30, or 1.60.5. 24 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,320 Lovely. Step forward. 25 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,480 So, Aimee and Nancy, what we want to do is to look at 26 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,120 how food processing impacts your health. 27 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,280 They're taking part in a test to explore the impact 28 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:47,680 of ultra-processed food on their health. 29 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,200 What we're going to be doing today is a lot of different tests 30 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,200 to look at your baseline health measures. 31 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,840 And then what you're going to do is for two weeks, 32 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,760 Nancy, you're going to be doing the unprocessed diet 33 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,120 and Aimee, you're going to be eating the ultra-processed diet. 34 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:04,760 Then we're going to get you back here 35 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,720 and then we're going to do the same tests again 36 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,000 and look at how these different foods have impacted your health. 37 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,440 Ultra-processed foods are hugely popular, 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,520 from ready meals to some bread, crisps and snacks. 39 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,120 Across Europe, ultra-processed food 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,680 makes up about a quarter of the diet, 41 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,200 but here in the UK, the figures are much higher. 42 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,760 Ultra-processed food accounts for more than 50% of our energy intake 43 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,200 in the UK across adults, 44 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,760 and it's an even bigger problem in children. 45 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,720 So it accounts for about 65% of our energy intake for children. 46 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,720 This is actually increasing at an alarming rate. 47 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,600 Ultra-processed food is relatively cheap, convenient 48 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:53,880 and can have a longer shelf life. 49 00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:55,680 It's mass produced 50 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,280 and its nutritional content is often altered. 51 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,640 We believe ultra-processed food's having an unfavourable effect 52 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,400 on our health because the act of processing foods 53 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,280 breaks down the structure of the foods. 54 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,400 Often ultra-processed foods have very little fibre in them, 55 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,080 or the fibre is removed. 56 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,360 And ultra-processed food often contains chemical additives. 57 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,960 Many of these ingredients most people won't have heard of. 58 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,480 But what we don't know is how all of these different chemicals 59 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,560 might interact together in terms of our health. 60 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,360 Because Aimee and Nancy are identical twins, 61 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,480 it's easier to compare how their bodies react to the food they eat. 62 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,000 Their diets will contain exactly the same amount of calories, 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,560 nutrients, fat, sugar and fibre. 64 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,240 But only Aimee will be eating the ultra-processed food, 65 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,440 containing chemical additives. 66 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,040 I do eat some processed foods just out of convenience 67 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,520 but I do love lots of fresh foods 68 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,720 and have quite a healthy diet, 69 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,640 I think, so I think it is going to be a bit of a shift. 70 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,960 There are many reasons for chronic ill health, like smoking, 71 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,720 drinking too much and lack of exercise. 72 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,760 We already know too much salt, 73 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,840 fat and sugar in our diet can be bad for us. 74 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:25,440 Now, there's an increasing focus on ultra-processed food. 75 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,320 My name is Tim Spector. 76 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,560 I'm a Professor of Epidemiology at King's College, London. 77 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:35,040 I'm a Professor of Epidemiology at King's College, London. 78 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:39,040 In the last decade, the evidence has been slowly growing 79 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:44,160 that ultra-processed food is harmful for us in ways we hadn't thought. 80 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:44,840 that ultra-processed food is harmful for us in ways we hadn't thought. 81 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,680 We're talking about all varieties of cancers. 82 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,960 We're talking about heart disease, strokes, dementia. 83 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,560 Many of these products may have 20 chemicals, 84 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:00,080 and there can be emulsifiers, preservatives, artificial sweeteners 85 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:00,600 and there can be emulsifiers, preservatives, artificial sweeteners 86 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,920 which have negative effects on our body. 87 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,840 One of the most controversial chemical additives often used 88 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:15,440 in ultra-processed food is the sweetener aspartame. 89 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,120 200 times sweeter than sugar, 90 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,280 it's used in thousands of products, 91 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,360 often marketed as low-calorie. 92 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,560 There have been questions about its safety 93 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,880 over the last two decades. 94 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,080 In 2006, scientists in Italy began studying aspartame. 95 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:34,800 In 2006, scientists in Italy began studying aspartame. 96 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,720 I'm Daniele Mandrioli, 97 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,920 I'm the director of the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Centre 98 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,040 of the Ramazzini Institute. 99 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,720 We gave mice and rats aspartame 100 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,600 with a human-equivalent exposure. 101 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,280 It was the largest study ever performed on aspartame. 102 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,040 Our findings was that aspartame 103 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,080 was capable of inducing a number 104 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,280 of cancer in different organs. 105 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,080 Although the experiment was on rodents, 106 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,640 the Ramazzini scientists were concerned 107 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,760 aspartame might also be harmful to humans. 108 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,600 The higher the dose that was given, 109 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,080 the higher the numbers of tumours 110 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,120 that we observed. 111 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,640 These are all cancer cells 112 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,720 that are invading the liver. 113 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:36,240 Nervous system tumours, 114 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:38,000 mammary cancer, 115 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,280 kidney, leukaemia. 116 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,560 Since then, aspartame has been studied many times. 117 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,520 Some scientists raised similar concerns, while others questioned 118 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,680 the quality of the Ramazzini studies 119 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,360 and said there was nothing to worry about. 120 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,680 In 2013, the European Food Safety Authority agreed, 121 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,400 saying aspartame was safe. 122 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,280 My name is Erik Millstone and I am 123 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,200 an Emeritus Professor of Science Policy at the University of Sussex. 124 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:18,600 an Emeritus Professor of Science Policy at the University of Sussex. 125 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,200 Professor Millstone reviewed all the research 126 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,760 the regulator had considered. 127 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,960 I produced and published a very detailed analysis 128 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,320 of each of the studies. 129 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,960 He came to the conclusion that there was a link 130 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,000 between how research was funded 131 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,640 and its findings. 132 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,960 Of the studies that seemed to show harm, 133 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,880 I think every single one of them 134 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,080 {\an8}was funded by a noncommercial independent source. 135 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,240 Three quarters of those independent studies 136 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,560 found an association between aspartame and harm. 137 00:07:58,600 --> 00:07:58,720 found an association between aspartame and harm. 138 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,200 But Professor Millstone found research funded by makers 139 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,920 of aspartame came to a very different conclusion. 140 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,320 About 90% of the reassuring studies 141 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,800 were funded by large chemical corporations 142 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,960 that manufacture and sell aspartame. 143 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,720 So there's a pattern there that suggests the industry designs 144 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,200 and conducts studies that provide reassuring evidence. 145 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,560 I saw that as an expression of a very profound 146 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,280 and very dangerous bias. 147 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,840 Although ruled safe by many regulators, 148 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,800 there is a growing body of evidence 149 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,080 of potential links between the sweetener 150 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,360 and serious illness. 151 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,440 I am Dr Mathilde Touvier. 152 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,560 I am the head of the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team 153 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,160 in the University Sorbonne Paris Nord. 154 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:01,120 Dr Touvier is leading one of the world's biggest studies 155 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,080 into food additives. 156 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,480 It's called NutriNet-Sante, 157 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,520 and for 14 years, Dr Touvier and her team have been publishing 158 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:14,040 regular reports based on the health and eating habits of 174,000 people. 159 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,000 regular reports based on the health and eating habits of 174,000 people. 160 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:21,240 {\an8}We have 24-hour dietary records, during which they tell us 161 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,520 {\an8}all the food, the beverages and so on that they are eating. 162 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:34,200 She's been looking at the possible impact of aspartame on human health. 163 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:34,640 She's been looking at the possible impact of aspartame on human health. 164 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:37,440 Regarding artificial sweeteners and aspartame, 165 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,480 we did two major studies so far. 166 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,640 We first showed an association 167 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:46,520 between artificial sweeteners intake and notably aspartame 168 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:48,600 and increased risk of cancer. 169 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,240 Dr Touvier's findings don't prove aspartame causes cancer, 170 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,000 but they do suggest the more aspartame you consume, 171 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:02,880 the more likely you are to develop cancer, as well as other diseases. 172 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:04,320 the more likely you are to develop cancer, as well as other diseases. 173 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,560 We observed associations between artificial sweeteners 174 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,840 as a whole, and notably aspartame 175 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,960 with cardiovascular diseases 176 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,240 and, more specifically, cerebrovascular diseases, 177 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,280 which are mainly a stroke. 178 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,080 The World Health Organization has recently advised 179 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:26,080 that although there isn't conclusive evidence, it's concerned 180 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,520 long-term use of sweeteners like aspartame may increase the risk 181 00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:30,760 long-term use of sweeteners like aspartame may increase the risk 182 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:35,800 of Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and mortality. 183 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:35,920 of Type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and mortality. 184 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,240 A working group from the organisation's 185 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,600 International Agency for Research on Cancer 186 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,040 is meeting to examine aspartame's possible links to cancer 187 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,840 later this month. 188 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,800 The US-based Calorie Control Council, which represents 189 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:59,040 the global sweetener industry, says the French study should be reviewed 190 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,960 with extreme caution, as it's based on self-reported data, 191 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,320 which may be unreliable. 192 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,080 It also says it strongly disagrees 193 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,600 with the World Health Organization's conclusion 194 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,360 on aspartame's potential health impacts. 195 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,360 Aimee and Nancy are a week 196 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,400 into their ultra-processed food test. 197 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:32,520 {\an8}For breakfast this morning, I had a quinoa porridge with berries on top, 198 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:36,200 {\an8}and it's done a really good job of keeping me energised and full. 199 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:37,880 {\an8}So it's the end of the day now, 200 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:39,760 {\an8}and I've got a bit of a headache to be honest. 201 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:41,720 So, yeah, ending the day 202 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,640 still hungry, feeling a bit sort of rubbish 203 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:48,000 and, yeah, a bit of a headache. 204 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,600 Dr Berry is checking in with the twins 205 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,760 to discuss how they're getting on. 206 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,520 Lots of the things that you've just described about your headache 207 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:01,600 all point to the fact that you're probably having a dip 208 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,880 in blood sugar that happens about two to four hours 209 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,600 after people consume really heavily processed, 210 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,400 refined carbohydrates. 211 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,480 As well as being highly processed, 212 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,680 Aimee's food also contains chemical additives. 213 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:22,080 This is a mousse, made with fruit puree and only 73 calories. 214 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:23,520 This is a mousse, made with fruit puree and only 73 calories. 215 00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:25,880 Yeah, you'd think that would be a healthy option. 216 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,560 Oh, my goodness. 217 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,680 Pork gelatine, glucose, fructose syrup, acidity regulator, 218 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,960 citric acid, sodium hydroxide, 219 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,320 modified maize starch. 220 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,120 There's a term we use called the Health Halo, 221 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:45,440 where you have packaging that says high in fibre or low in sugar, 222 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:45,520 where you have packaging that says high in fibre or low in sugar, 223 00:12:45,560 --> 00:12:48,320 low in salt, plant-based. All of these kind of magic words 224 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,240 that make people think, "Wow, these are really healthy." 225 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,120 If anything ever says, "low", "reduced" or "no", 226 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,280 I'd always be a bit suspicious because how else have they therefore 227 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,840 made that food taste great? 228 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,440 Even many everyday foods like sliced bread can contain ingredients 229 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,720 no home cook would recognise. 230 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,880 Preservatives, palm oil, 231 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,680 caramelised sugar, 232 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,360 esters of mono and diglycerides and fatty acids. 233 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,480 Yeah, shocking. So many things I've never heard of. 234 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,800 And there's one ingredient the twins keep seeing again and again. 235 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:26,120 And there's one ingredient the twins keep seeing again and again. 236 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,520 Emulsifiers again. 237 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:31,840 We've seen that a few times, haven't we? Yeah. 238 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,400 Emulsifiers are essentially a glue. 239 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,480 They stick components together 240 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,280 so that they have a good mouthfeel 241 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:44,200 and they don't fall apart in your mouth or on the plate. 242 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,360 So here we have carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, 243 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,680 which is one of the commonest emulsifiers 244 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,440 used in the food industry. 245 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,320 And I'm just going to demonstrate 246 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,000 what happens when you just add water to it 247 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:02,520 and it very rapidly becomes 248 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:06,320 like a glue, a stodgy mass 249 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,920 that sticks everything together. 250 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,960 The food industry uses around 60 different emulsifiers, 251 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,000 often to enhance the appearance, texture and shelf life 252 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,040 of ultra-processed foods. 253 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,000 Some are naturally occurring, 254 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,560 others are chemically produced. 255 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,480 It's found in an incredible number of our foods 256 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,240 and they are potentially harmful. 257 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:39,440 Dr Touvier's study has also been looking at emulsifiers. 258 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:44,440 Panorama has been given exclusive access to her findings. 259 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:44,720 Panorama has been given exclusive access to her findings. 260 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,080 They're yet to be verified by peer review 261 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,720 but she says they're concerning. 262 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,040 We observed significant associations between emulsifier intake 263 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:54,120 We observed significant associations between emulsifier intake 264 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,920 and increased risk of cancer overall 265 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,960 and breast cancer, notably, 266 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,440 but also with cardiovascular diseases. 267 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,000 Ten years ago, a report funded 268 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,240 by the European Commission said 269 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,800 the consumption of chemical emulsifiers by UK adults 270 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,800 sometimes exceeded safe limits. 271 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,720 Some children were consuming even higher levels, 272 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,200 yet no action was taken by regulators. 273 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,720 In population, especially, children 274 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,440 are above the acceptable daily intakes, 275 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,440 it's really something we should be concerned about. 276 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,600 It's pretty horrific that so many children are affected. 277 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:40,120 It's even worse to realise that no-one has done anything about it. 278 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,720 At this party, the children are largely eating unprocessed food 279 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,240 but their parents are still worried. 280 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,560 If there is evidence that there's links to cancer, 281 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,280 that's really scary. 282 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,800 It begs the question, why is nobody actually bothering to look at that? 283 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,280 They're little children, they cannot be exposed to those things. 284 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,160 Upsetting and worrying, that's how it makes me feel. 285 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,840 I think it's outrageous, to be honest, 286 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,520 because you get them in for snacks, 287 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,440 you get them in to give to the children 288 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,040 when they come in from school and they're hungry. 289 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,080 We should be protecting our next generation, not exposing them 290 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,560 to harmful chemicals in their food. 291 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,600 In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 292 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:29,640 food safety is regulated by the Food Standards Agency, the FSA. 293 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:30,520 food safety is regulated by the Food Standards Agency, the FSA. 294 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,520 It says it's about to launch a public consultation 295 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,240 on some emulsifiers. 296 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,600 There's growing concern the impact of ultra-processed food 297 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,640 on younger people is already being felt. 298 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,960 Hello. Hello, Dr Sadhra. 299 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,560 So how are you doing? I'm good, thank you. Yeah. 300 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:57,240 Hunida discovered she had Type 2 diabetes when she was just 31. 301 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:58,240 Hunida discovered she had Type 2 diabetes when she was just 31. 302 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,760 Not anyone as young as me has had diabetes in my family 303 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,600 so, when I was the first one in the young generation, 304 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,960 it was quite a shock, you know. 305 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,880 I am aware medically of the seriousness of diabetes 306 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,080 and what it can do to you long term. 307 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:18,520 She's one of 4.3 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes. 308 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,080 She's one of 4.3 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes. 309 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:23,640 Rates among the under-40s are growing faster here 310 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,000 than anywhere in the world. 311 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,480 Diabetes levels at Dr Sadhra's Slough practice 312 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,720 are above the national average. 313 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,440 His patients face a range of risk factors. 314 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,760 In this practice, we've got 25% of adults 315 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:39,960 In this practice, we've got 25% of adults 316 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,760 are either pre-diabetic or diabetic. 317 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,640 {\an8}This is very worrying. 318 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:46,520 {\an8}It is very concerning. 319 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,920 In the last 12 months, I've had 320 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,800 more than 100 new diabetics being diagnosed. 321 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,520 We have 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds 322 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,360 who have been diagnosed. 323 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:05,160 I'm finding patients who are younger with certain cancers. 324 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,440 That's how bad things are getting. 325 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,440 Dr Sadhra is clear on what he thinks the cause is. 326 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,280 The chronic disease escalation 327 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:21,000 is primarily related to food intake. 328 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:22,720 There's no question about it. 329 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,080 As well as the ingredients in our food, 330 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:30,840 many scientists are worried 331 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,640 about chemicals in some of the packaging it comes in, 332 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,960 particularly bisphenol A, 333 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,680 or BPA for short. 334 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:43,280 It's used in some ready meal plastic trays, 335 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,720 bottles and takeaway containers. 336 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,360 BPA gets into our food because it leaches out 337 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,640 from the plastic containers 338 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,840 and is increased if you increase the temperature of the plastic, 339 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,360 as can happen on a hot day, 340 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,400 or particularly if you put it in a microwave. 341 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,200 A review of more than 1,000 studies 342 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,720 suggested high levels of BPA 343 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,080 were linked to cancer and infertility, 344 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:15,160 with particular concerns about the impact on pregnancies. 345 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,960 It disrupts our hormonal pathways, 346 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,920 has been associated with increased rates of miscarriage, 347 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:26,040 stillbirth or malformations in the foetus. 348 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:31,000 The European regulator was so concerned that in April 2023 349 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:33,200 it updated its guidance, 350 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,480 dramatically reducing safe levels 351 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,960 for human consumption. 352 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:42,720 The UK's regulator, the Food Standards Agency, 353 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,080 gets advice on chemicals in food 354 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,840 from the Committee on Toxicity. 355 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,440 It took a different view. 356 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,560 It's chaired by Professor Alan Boobis, 357 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,320 seen here speaking at a scientific conference. 358 00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:01,560 I'm a member of a number of science advisory boards. 359 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:06,040 Alan Boobis is an emeritus professor. 360 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,680 Recently, Professor Boobis 361 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,560 and some of his colleagues 362 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,880 have been arguing that the authorities ought not to be focusing 363 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:16,360 have been arguing that the authorities ought not to be focusing 364 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,080 {\an8}on the potential risks that chemicals might cause 365 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:23,560 to reproductive systems. 366 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,320 A series of reports, co-authored by Professor Boobis, 367 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:29,960 have downplayed the risks of BPA. 368 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,840 The most recent paper said that it was not plausible 369 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,800 that the amount of BPA we're currently exposed to 370 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,160 could cause us harm. 371 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,640 The paper also said the professor had no personal relationships 372 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,880 that might influence his conclusions. 373 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:48,960 that might influence his conclusions. 374 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,320 But he didn't declare in that paper his relationship 375 00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:54,080 with an organisation called 376 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:58,440 the International Life Sciences Institute, known as ILSI. 377 00:20:58,480 --> 00:20:58,520 the International Life Sciences Institute, known as ILSI. 378 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,080 I'm Dr Sarah Steele. 379 00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:10,000 I'm a senior research associate at the University of Cambridge 380 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,640 in Global Public Health. 381 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,000 The International Life Sciences Institute, which most people call 382 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,680 ILSI, was set up in 1978. 383 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,640 They have multiple branches around the world. 384 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,720 They're a truly global body. 385 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,440 VIDEO:By working with experts... 386 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,440 ILSI's glossy videos spell out its mission. 387 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:32,080 {\an8}VIDEO:ILSI is a nonprofit, charitable organisation that works 388 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:34,240 {\an8}for the health of the public. 389 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:38,680 Hundreds of scientists work with the institute worldwide. 390 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,280 It says it encourages collaborations 391 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,160 between academics and industry. 392 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:49,040 They kind of say that they produce science for the public good. 393 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:50,840 VIDEO:It's who we are and... 394 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:52,920 But ILSI gets much of its funding 395 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:57,560 from some of the world's largest food and chemical companies. 396 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,120 There's been a large number of multinational corporations 397 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,040 who funded ILSI. 398 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,080 Big food, environment, chemical, 399 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:09,080 those kinds of multinational corporations. 400 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:15,440 In 2012, the European Food Safety Authority was so worried 401 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,480 about potential conflicts of interest, it insisted anyone 402 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,880 associated with ILSI either had to resign from it 403 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,400 or leave the regulator. 404 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,280 Three years later, the World Health Organization 405 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,960 also distanced itself from ILSI. 406 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,200 They're promoting industry-favourable positions, 407 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,680 but not calling themselves the industry players. 408 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:43,840 And that for me is really concerning. 409 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,120 But here in the UK, the Food Standards Agency 410 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,560 allows Professor Boobis, an unpaid board member 411 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,080 and former vice president of ILSI Europe, to chair 412 00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:58,440 the key advisory Committee on Toxicity. 413 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,520 I think it's entirely inappropriate that the chairman 414 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,760 of the Committee on Toxicity is so closely linked 415 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,760 to an organisation promoting the interests 416 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,600 of the chemical and food industries. 417 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,200 More than half the members of the Committee on Toxicity 418 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:22,480 have recent links to the food or chemicals industries. 419 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,880 And, last year, it disagreed with the European regulators' proposals 420 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,840 to cut the safe level of BPA, 421 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,400 criticising the regulator's approach to the evidence. 422 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,200 That means the safe level in the UK 423 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,960 is now 20,000 times higher than in Europe. 424 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,880 They have dismissed the arguments in favour of precaution 425 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,680 and are not endorsing a proposal 426 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,320 for cutting the permitted levels of BPA 427 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:54,160 in food-packaging materials. 428 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,960 And that represents a danger to consumers in this country. 429 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:04,360 Currently, the Food Standards Agency says BPA poses no risk to health, 430 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,240 Currently, the Food Standards Agency says BPA poses no risk to health, 431 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,320 but it says evaluation is ongoing. 432 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,480 Over the past ten years, the Committee on Toxicity 433 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,360 hasn't supported a single restriction 434 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,600 on the use of any chemical additive 435 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,320 in our food. 436 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,360 UK's Committee on Toxicity 437 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,080 is supposed to help 438 00:24:28,120 --> 00:24:30,320 protect public health. 439 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:32,320 The judgments that it makes 440 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:36,080 rarely serve to protect public health 441 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:38,200 and more typically protect 442 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,240 the commercial interests 443 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,160 of chemical and food companies. 444 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,480 Professor Boobis says his advice 445 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,880 isn't slanted to favour industry. 446 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,400 And he's always been... 447 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,480 He says, he's always been open and transparent 448 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,160 about organisations he works with. 449 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,680 Recuses himself when there's a potential conflict of interest 450 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,320 and that his research is... 451 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,440 The Food Standards Agency says it has... 452 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,560 And it has no evidence bias has affected 453 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:30,440 the Committee on Toxicity's opinions or decisions made by the FSA. 454 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:30,640 the Committee on Toxicity's opinions or decisions made by the FSA. 455 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:36,200 It says it's vital it gets expert advice from people 456 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,480 across the food system. 457 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,600 ILSI says it... 458 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,840 And evaluates any conflicts of interest... 459 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,360 ..for research. 460 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:06,560 Twins Aimee and Nancy have finished their two-week food test. 461 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,640 They've eaten diets, matched for calories, nutrients, sugar, 462 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,040 salt, fat and fibre. 463 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,920 The only difference has been the way Aimee's food has been made. 464 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,600 Are you interested to find out how you got on? 465 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,600 Yeah. We don't know anything, so we're excited to find out. 466 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,840 Aimee, you were on the ultra-processed food diet 467 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:34,160 that was exactly equivalent to the same diet that Nancy was on, 468 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:34,440 that was exactly equivalent to the same diet that Nancy was on, 469 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,760 which was the wholefood unprocessed diet. 470 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,600 But your results were really quite different to your sister's. 471 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,480 They were far worse. 472 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,440 Your blood fat levels actually went up. 473 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,600 Your lipids, which are markers of heart disease, 474 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,240 they were increased. 475 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,160 Your blood sugar was noticeably worse. 476 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,760 You actually gained weight, nearly a kilogram, 477 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,200 and you actually lost weight. 478 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:00,840 It's a bit scary, isn't it? 479 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,120 After only two weeks, to see those sorts of results. 480 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,360 So just imagine what that would be over 20 years. 481 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,000 After two weeks on the ultra-processed diet, 482 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,360 any impact on Aimee's health will be fully reversible. 483 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,560 But the results are in line with a growing body of evidence 484 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,640 linking chemical additives and ultra-processing 485 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,400 to serious health consequences. 486 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,640 You're much more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. 487 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,120 The changes we saw in your blood fats - 488 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:33,880 these blood lipid levels - 489 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,560 are associated with increased risk 490 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,680 of heart disease and strokes later in life. 491 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,280 So really it's all bad news 492 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,160 to be moving in that direction. 493 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:47,800 The Government has ordered a review of the evidence 494 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,200 on ultra-processed foods. 495 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,320 It will report in the summer. 496 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,400 We already have the most obese children in Europe. 497 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,720 That means more Type 2 diabetes, 498 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,720 more cancers, more heart disease, 499 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,840 more misery, more mental illness. 500 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,280 This really is a future time bomb. 501 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,080 It's a complete disaster. 502 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:11,840 And we're sleepwalking into it. 503 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:15,000 And it's extremely frightening. 504 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:19,160 There are now dozens of scientific studies warning of the dangers 505 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,960 of diets high in ultra-processed food. 506 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,960 In a decade that's seen a rapid rise in chronic illnesses, 507 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,560 is it time to take stronger action?