Ultra-processed food sales are growing worldwide and now make up a large part of diets in many countries, including Australia. Ultra-processed foods are made by big companies in factories using ingredients people would not usually find in the home pantry. Ultra-processed foods include obvious “junk foods” like soft drinks and chips, but also many products that are marketed as healthy, like flavoured yoghurts and sweetened breakfast cereals. Ultra-processed foods are linked to serious health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and early death. These foods also harm the planet by creating plastic waste, pollution, and deforestation, while impacting local cultures and making it harder for small producers to compete.
Dr Machado’s research has shown that almost half of all calories consumed by Australians come from ultra-processed foods, with even higher consumption among the youth and those with lower socioeconomic status. Her research shows that while governments in many countries are taking action to reduce ultra-processed food consumption, Australia has been slow to respond.
Dr Machado’s research currently focuses on understanding how ultra-processed foods impact health and food systems, monitoring trends in supply and consumption, and exploring communication strategies and policy solutions to help Australians eat less ultra-processed foods.