Skip to main content

Understanding representations of ultra-processed foods in the UK media: a thematic content analysis
Home > Research > Healthy places, healthy planet > Understanding representations of ultra-processed foods in the UK media: a thematic content analysis

Understanding representations of ultra-processed foods in the UK media: a thematic content analysis

Research Team: Co-Investigators: Eszter P Vamos (Imperial) & Martin White (Cambridge) Academic collaborators: Mark Petticrew (LSHTM), Jean Adams (Cambridge), Emma Boyland (LiLaC), Milica Vasiljevic (Fuse), Jennie Parnham (Imperial), Kiara Chang (Imperial), Anthony Laverty (Imperial) & Steve Cummins (LSHTM), Christopher Millett (Imperial) & Michael Essman (Cambridge). Policy & practice collaborators: Connie Junghans (Westminster City Council), Greg Fell (Director of Public Health, Sheffield Council; Vice President – Association of Directors of Public Health), Felix Greaves (NHS England and DHSC, Director Digital, Data & Innovation Strategy & Head of joint Digital Policy Unit – invited to collaborate), Sustain (tbc). Public collaborators: Deb Smith, Maisie McKenzie, Prisha Shah & Sandra Jayacodi.

Who's involved: Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, LSHTM, Fuse & LiLaC

01 October 2023 - 31 December 2024

What does this mean for public health professionals?

We are currently in a critical point in which media coverage of ultra-processed foods could impact the public and policymaker’s perception. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recently published a statement on ultra-processed foods (11th July 2023) and there has been recent high profile media coverage (BBC Panorama, June 2023). As such, this topic will come under increased scrutiny in future months. It is imperative to promptly assess and respond to the pervasive presence of corporate influence in this area that could sway appropriate discussions on UPF science and policy.

To have impact among policymakers we will:

  • Produce two policy briefings summarising the finding of journal articles.
  • Work with Imperial’s Policy Forum to reach out to engaged and high-level practitioners and policymakers. For example, we previously met with three members of the House of Lords to discuss our work on Ultra-processed foods. We know these policymakers are engaged on the topic of UPFs.
Circles

What does this mean for the public?

The scientific evidence on the health and environmental harms of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and associated wider social and economic effects has been building rapidly. Considering UK children and adults are among the highest consumers globally and the likely role of UPFs in the obesity crisis and its sequalae, it is vital that we understand this policy environment in the UK.

To have impact in the public community we will:

  • Produce a lay summary of the project’s findings to be posted online.
  • Produce a press release for distribution among the media.
  • Produce an accessible and informative summary for social media.
  • Work with the public panel to develop an accessible and informative method for dissemination (i.e. infographic, audio or video).
Half circles
Unhealthy food

Background

The scientific evidence on the health and environmental harms of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and associated wider social and economic effects has been building rapidly. Considering UK children and adults are among the highest consumers globally and the likely role of UPFs in the obesity crisis and its sequalae, it is vital that we understand this policy environment in the UK.

The media plays a crucial role in determining perceived importance of an issue for both the public and policymakers and has a significant impact on agenda setting and policy action. As the pressure for UPF industry regulation grows, the number of articles from industry-linked entities which undermine the UPF concept and discredit researchers and advocates appears to be increasing. However, discussion over science and policy options could be undermined if industry attempts to dismiss the science via the media remain unchallenged.

Why now?

We are currently in a critical point in which media coverage of ultra-processed foods could impact the public and policymaker’s perception. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recently published a statement on ultra-processed foods (11th July 2023) and there has been recent high profile media coverage (BBC Panorama, June 2023). As such, this topic will come under increased scrutiny in future months. It is imperative to promptly assess and respond to the pervasive presence of corporate influence in this area that could sway appropriate discussions on UPF science and policy.

It is therefore critical that we understand how UPFs are portrayed in the media and the extent to which industry is influencing this portrayal. This project will aim to analyse the representation of UPFs in the UK media and explore how this is linked to the public’s perception and understanding of UPFs.

 Aims & objectives

This project will analyse the representation of UPFs in the UK media, the influence of the industry and explore how this is linked to public perceptions and understanding of UPFs.

To achieve this overall aim, the project will consist of two work packages (WP). The specific objectives of these work packages are as follows:

WP1: A thematic content analysis of UPF in UK newspapers

  1. Systematically analyse the recent coverage of UPFs in the UK newspapers and trade press and characterise the framing and strategies used (2022-2023)
  2. Examine the declared and obscured conflicts of interests for named individuals and organisations who contribute to UPF media articles and assess whether this is linked to the framing of UPF between 2013 and 2023.
  3. Examine changes in frequency, and content of industry narratives over time and how they map onto narratives used by other industries (e.g. complexity narrative, uncertainty in evidence narrative, etc.) (2013 -2023).

WP2: A qualitative exploration of the public perception of UPFs

  1. Explore perceptions of the concept of UPF and its relationship to diet quality and health, and whether perceptions of UPFs influence purchasing and consumption.
  2. Explore public awareness of, and reflections on, recent media coverage of UPF.

We have carefully considered our pathways to impact and will aim to produce outputs to maximise impact in researcher, policymaker, and public communities

Publications

Essman, M., Parnham, J.C., Chang, K. et al. Understandings of ultra-processed foods among adults with responsibility for household food activities in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study. BMC Glob. Public Health 4, 35 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-026-00263-0

News

Why ultra-processed foods are hard to avoid, and where people turn for advice

You may also be interested in
Skip to content