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Understanding and Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods for Better Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 439

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Food and Health, Instituto de la Grasa-CSIC, Campus of the University Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
Interests: nutrition science; lipids; inflammation; diabetes; lipoproteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
Interests: public health; epidemiology; nutrition science; food and nutritional security; social determinants of health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid globalization of Westernized diets has led to an unprecedented rise in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), posing a significant challenge to public health systems worldwide. This Special Issue explores the growing impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on global health, specifically focusing on their contribution to the burden of metabolic disorders, obesity, and chronic non-communicable diseases, as well as strategies to mitigate their effects. Contributions address knowledge and attitudes among the general public and health professionals regarding UPFs, the links between UPFs and metabolic disorders, and the underlying mechanisms driving these associations. In addition, this issue evaluates multi-level mitigation strategies, ranging from structural policy interventions—such as front-of-pack labeling, taxation, and marketing restrictions—to technological reformulation and consumer education to promote healthier dietary patterns. By integrating evidence from nutrition science, public health, and food technology, this collection aims to define actionable, evidence-based pathways to reduce UPF intake and promote sustainable, healthier dietary patterns globally.

Dr. Javier S. Perona
Guest Editor

Dr. Angélica Quintero-Flórez
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ultra-processed foods (UPFs)
  • global health
  • policy interventions
  • healthier dietary patterns
  • consumer education
  • nutrition science
  • public health

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

25 pages, 321 KB  
Article
Increasing Minimally Processed Food Intake in Depression via Commercial Meal Delivery: Qualitative Accounts of Participant Experiences
by Celina R. Furman, Elena L. Pokowitz, Sushmitha Peddireddy, Imogen Bylinsky, Jacki D. Zhang, Ingrid A. Worth, Kendrin R. Sonneville and Ashley N. Gearhardt
Nutrients 2026, 18(12), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18121852 - 9 Jun 2026
Viewed by 190
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Several randomized controlled trials have found that dietary interventions promoting self-guided shifts away from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and toward minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods may alleviate depressive symptoms. However, translating these interventions into scalable and sustainable real-world approaches remains a key challenge. Adopting [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Several randomized controlled trials have found that dietary interventions promoting self-guided shifts away from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and toward minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods may alleviate depressive symptoms. However, translating these interventions into scalable and sustainable real-world approaches remains a key challenge. Adopting a minimally processed dietary pattern requires sustained effort (e.g., meal planning, shopping, and preparation) within environments where UPFs are pervasive and convenient. These demands may be especially burdensome for individuals experiencing depressive symptoms. Consequently, interventions that rely heavily on individual effort may be difficult to maintain. Commercial meal delivery services may offer a structural solution by reducing logistical and cognitive barriers to dietary change, yet little is known about how individuals with depressive symptoms experience this approach. Methods: In a parent study, we conducted a randomized pilot study of a meal delivery service designed to provide minimally processed meals to adults with moderate to moderately severe depressive symptoms; here we report qualitative findings from post-intervention interviews with participants assigned to the meal delivery condition (n = 20). Results: Participants appreciated reductions in preparatory effort and mental load, which supported adherence. Dietary changes were also linked to improved mood through increased energy, mood stability, and more positive self-evaluation. However, social settings were a near-universal barrier, and acceptability depended on palatability, compatibility with personal preferences, and perceived autonomy. Several participants also described a temporal adjustment process (early cravings/withdrawal followed by adaptation). Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest participant-informed priorities for future testing and refinement of scalable meal delivery interventions for depression, including personalization and choice, quality control, and support for social and withdrawal-related challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods for Better Health)
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