Understandings of ultra-processed foods among adults with responsibility for household food activities in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
There is accumulating evidence that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with many non-communicable diseases. In the United Kingdom (UK), UPFs account for more than half of mean daily energy intake. There is limited evidence describing how individuals make sense of UPFs in their daily lives. In this study, we aim to explore public perceptions of UPFs and their relationship to health; how these are shaped by different information sources; whether perceptions influence purchasing and consumption; and proposed solutions for reducing UPF consumption.
Methods
We undertook 30 qualitative, one-to-one interviews with people living in the UK, aged 18 years or older, with household responsibility for food activities recruited using social media advertisements. Interviews followed a semi-structured topic guide reflecting the aims. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Members of a Public Involvement and Engagement group helped interpret emergent findings.
Results
Reflexive thematic analysis identified five interconnected themes: (1) understanding of UPFs, (2) influences on understanding, (3) decision-making around UPFs, (4) barriers and enablers to reducing UPF consumption, and (5) proposed solutions. Food processing often made more sense to participants as a continuum rather than ordinal categories. There was particular confusion regarding the boundary between processed and ultra-processed food. Participants described an overwhelming food-related information environment. Personal and anecdotal experience was particularly powerful. While industry-sponsored information was met with scepticism, the personal testimonies of social media influencers were seen as relatable or helpful. Participants’ perceptions of UPFs sometimes influenced their purchasing and consumption. However, cost, convenience, taste, and family practices were often as or more important. Suggestions to help reduce UPF consumption ranged from education to fiscal policies.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that the public may benefit from support in navigating a complex food information landscape, including clearer and more actionable communication about UPFs and related topics. Policy approaches that modify the food environment are also likely to be useful, particularly those that make less processed options more affordable, available, and convenient for people with limited time.
There is accumulating evidence that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with many non-communicable diseases. In the United Kingdom (UK), UPFs account for more than half of mean daily energy intake. There is limited evidence describing how individuals make sense of UPFs in their daily lives. In this study, we aim to explore public perceptions of UPFs and their relationship to health; how these are shaped by different information sources; whether perceptions influence purchasing and consumption; and proposed solutions for reducing UPF consumption.
Methods
We undertook 30 qualitative, one-to-one interviews with people living in the UK, aged 18 years or older, with household responsibility for food activities recruited using social media advertisements. Interviews followed a semi-structured topic guide reflecting the aims. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Members of a Public Involvement and Engagement group helped interpret emergent findings.
Results
Reflexive thematic analysis identified five interconnected themes: (1) understanding of UPFs, (2) influences on understanding, (3) decision-making around UPFs, (4) barriers and enablers to reducing UPF consumption, and (5) proposed solutions. Food processing often made more sense to participants as a continuum rather than ordinal categories. There was particular confusion regarding the boundary between processed and ultra-processed food. Participants described an overwhelming food-related information environment. Personal and anecdotal experience was particularly powerful. While industry-sponsored information was met with scepticism, the personal testimonies of social media influencers were seen as relatable or helpful. Participants’ perceptions of UPFs sometimes influenced their purchasing and consumption. However, cost, convenience, taste, and family practices were often as or more important. Suggestions to help reduce UPF consumption ranged from education to fiscal policies.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that the public may benefit from support in navigating a complex food information landscape, including clearer and more actionable communication about UPFs and related topics. Policy approaches that modify the food environment are also likely to be useful, particularly those that make less processed options more affordable, available, and convenient for people with limited time.
Date Issued
2026-04-16
Date Acceptance
2026-03-17
Citation
BMC Global and Public Health, 2026, 4
ISSN
2731-913X
Publisher
BMC
Journal / Book Title
BMC Global and Public Health
Volume
4
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http:// creat iveco mmons. org/ licen ses/ by/4. 0/.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41987266
PII: 10.1186/s44263-026-00263-0
Subjects
Convenience
Food choice
Food perceptions
Health communication
Nova classification
Nutrition information
Public perceptions
Qualitative interviews
Social media
Ultra-processed foods
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
35
Date Publish Online
2026-04-16