The Lancet’s new three-paper Series on ultra-processed foods has captured global attention this week, along with coverage from CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, and The Independent. Their message is clear: rising rates of chronic disease are forcing an urgent conversation about how modern food systems operate, how people eat, and how public policy responds.
As a registered dietitian and as someone who works with Canadian manufacturers every day, I welcome this level of scrutiny. Canadians deserve clarity, transparency, and evidence-based policy rather than oversimplified narratives that risk confusing consumers or ignoring the complexity of our food system and the multifactorial nature of health and chronic disease.
The Lancet Series highlights something most dietitians and nutrition experts have been saying for years: diet quality matters. Patterns of eating built around a balance of whole foods, fruits and vegetables and lean proteins combined with overall healthy lifestyles, support better long-term health outcomes. These principles are foundational and well established.
It is also important to recognize that processing in and of itself is not the problem and is not a reliable stand-in for nutritional value. Processing enables food safety, affordability, shelf-life stability, reduced food waste, and access to essential nutrients across Canada’s geography. Many foods Canadians rely on every day, including whole-grain bread, yogurt, and infant formula, are technically processed. That reality must be part of any policy conversation.
FHCP remains focused on nutrient density, overall dietary patterns, and empowering Canadians with practical tools to make informed choices. Canada’s regulatory framework, including front-of-package nutrition labels coming into effect in 2026, targets nutrients of concern such as sodium, sugars, and saturated fat. These are the levers where risk is clearly established and where policy can meaningfully contribute to improving population health outcomes.
We also believe strongly in:
- Investing in food literacy and nutrition education, especially for children
- Expanding access and availability to affordable, nutritious foods
- Supporting innovation that reduces sugars, sodium, and saturated fat without compromising safety, accessibility, availability, or affordability
- Collaborative, evidence-informed policymaking rather than approaches that oversimplify complex issues or stigmatize entire categories of food
The Lancet Series raises important questions and we should continue to study the long-term interactions between food formulation, dietary patterns, and health. But public dialogue must remain rooted in science, not ideology, and Canadians must be able to rely on a food system that is safe, resilient, and responsive to evolving evidence.
The goal we all share, including governments, health experts, and Canadian manufacturers, is a healthier population supported by a strong, transparent, and science-aligned food system.
This op-ed was originally published on Linkedin.