Food and drink marketed as healthy can contain some of the same highly processed additives as junk foods, experts say.
The Times found that several products labelled as “natural” or “wholesome” had surprising added ingredients, including preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, bulking agents and sweeteners.
Shoppers are increasingly opting for less-processed food because of concerns about links between ultra-processed food (UPF) and cancer, heart disease, type-2 diabetes and other illnesses.
• The ultra-processed food Britain’s top nutritionist avoids
But nutrition specialists fear they are being misled by claims on packaging.
Sophie Medlin, a consultant dietician at City Dieticians, a private London clinic, said: “The food industry has recognised that people are increasingly looking for foods which are more natural — and there are lots of ways companies