The cost of ultra-processed foods on the environment
6 hours ago
- #sustainability
- #climate-change
- #ultra-processed-foods
- M&Ms contain 34 ingredients sourced from at least 30 countries, involving complex global supply chains.
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like M&Ms contribute significantly to climate change, but their environmental impact is hard to track due to their complex nature.
- Agriculture for ingredients like cocoa, sugar, and palm oil drives deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Industrial processes for additives like food dyes and soya lecithin are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful.
- CarbonCloud estimates M&Ms generate 13.2kg of CO2 per kg produced, totaling 3.8 million tons annually in the US.
- Food corporations often underreport emissions due to opaque supply chains and lack of accurate carbon accounting.
- UPFs are designed for profit, not sustainability, and their true environmental costs are not reflected in their price.
- Experts recommend consuming locally sourced, whole foods and reducing reliance on UPFs to lower carbon footprints.
- Large food corporations need to be held accountable for their environmental impact, beyond superficial sustainability initiatives.
- Public awareness and policy changes are needed to address the hidden environmental costs of UPFs.