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24.11.2025
Lancet Series on ultra-processed foods is a compelling argument for policy action to reshape the food system
A three-paper Lancet Series on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and human health, published on 18 November 2025, provides a comprehensive and timely assessment of the global impact of an unhealthy diet, one of our greatest public health challenges. The papers also highlight constructive and sound measures to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods. The analysis relies on the Nova classification system, first presented in 2009 by Carlos Monteiro. This defines ultra-processed foods as "branded, commercial formulations made from cheap ingredients extracted or derived from whole foods, combined with additives" that compete with less processed and fresh foods. What demarcates ultra-processed foods from "merely" processed foods, is the presence of one or more predominantly industrial substances, such as modified starches, flavour enhancers or non-sugar sweeteners, on its ingredient list. Thus, ultra-processed foods are essentially identified by their formulations, not their inherent health effects. Nevertheless, dietary patterns characterized by a high share of ultra-processed foods are higher in several nutrients of concern, including saturated fats, sodium, and free sugars. They are concomitantly lower in micronutrients, protein, and dietary fiber. By their nature, such diets displace nutrient-rich staples such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Consequently, systematic reviews of large observational studies have consistently associated high ultra-processed food consumption with a number of chronic diseases as well as all-cause mortality. An important physical characteristic of ultra-processed foods in general is their higher energy density compared to less processed counterparts. High energy density is known to be one of the most important factors that can cause excessive energy intake. Well-controlled randomized controlled trials have indeed found that a diet composed predominantly of ultra-processed foods can increase energy intake, often attributed to this energy density. A further characteristic that likely plays a role is the high sensory appeal ("hyper-palatability") of ultra-processed foods, through their precise combinations of fats, sugars, and salt.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/commentaries/lancet-series-on-ultra-processed-foods-is-a-compelling-argument-for-policy-action-to-reshape-the-food-system/
20.11.2025
Redesign modern food systems to be healthy, sustainable, and equitable
There is a shift toward diets with higher animal-sourced foods, saturated and trans-fatty acids, refined carbohydrates, and caloric sweetener due to the industrialisation of food systems, technological change, and globalisation. The nutrition transition is perpetuated by the growth in market and political activities of transnational food corporations as well as inadequate policies to protect nutrition in these new contexts. Therefore, understanding the drivers and dynamics of ultra-processed foods consumption is essential, given the evidence that these foods are linked with adverse health outcomes.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/blog/redesign-modern-food-systems-to-be-healthy-sustainable-and-equitable/
30.10.2025
JA PreventNCD Meeting in Copenhagen: Sharing Knowledge on Public Food Procurement
From 24–26 September 2025, partners of the JA Prevent NCD, specifically the team of Task 5.4 Public food procurement in public settings in EU, gathered in Copenhagen. Hosted by the City of Copenhagen, the three-day programme combined study visits, hands-on experiences, and a workshop to advance collaboration on healthy and sustainable public food procurement. The meeting opened with a warm welcome from the City of Copenhagen, followed by an overview of the status of the working group, including past achievements and upcoming activities. M. Gabrijelčič placed the public food procurement activities within the broader context of sustainability of the JA prevent NCD. In the afternoon, a capacity-building session focused on 'Legumes in Everyday Cooking' was held, along with a presentation on the collaboration between the culinary advisor, Meyers Madhus, and the City of Copenhagen. The session focused on providing a comprehensive training experience, with partners walking through an example of the kitchen staff training process. In addition, the activity served as an excellent team-building opportunity, allowing partners - who were meeting in person for the first time - to get to know each other better and collaborate in a hands-on environment. Procurement Expert in the City of Copenhagen, B. Bergmann Madsen said: “Kitchen staff training and sustainability criteria in tenders are equally important elements of Copenhagen’s holistic approach to food policy implementation”. On the second day, participants visited the EAT central distribution kitchen and one of the 25 Food Schools, gaining insights into how Copenhagen manages meal provision for schools. The afternoon programme consisted of two parts: a workshop on Public Food Procurement Networks in the EU, including group discussions on what defines a successful network and how its impact can be measured; and a collaborative planning session focused on defining the next steps and priorities for the continuation of the task, with particular emphasis on collaboration with the JRC and their new report on criteria for sustainable public food procurement. The final day concluded with a wrap-up evaluation session and ended with a study visit to an elderly home, where participants learned about catering practices for older adults which has a high focus on organic products and the right nutrition for the elderly, and together all enjoyed an early lunch prepared on site. B. Bergmann Madsen wrapped up the meeting by reflecting on the importance of in-person meetings in the JA: “In-person meetings are a vital platform for sharing knowledge on best practices in different countries and learning from each other. This visit has given us new perspectives and ideas on Copenhagen’s approach to food policy implementation” The Copenhagen meeting highlighted the importance of exchanging practical experiences across sectors, while also deepening the policy discussion on how networks can strengthen healthier and more sustainable public food systems in Europe. It was the first in-person meeting for many partners, providing a valuable opportunity to build connections and jointly plan the next steps - with a particular focus on collaboration with the JRC and their upcoming report on criteria for sustainable public food procurement.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/ja-preventncd-meeting-in-copenhagen-sharing-knowledge-on-public-food-procurement/
06.10.2025
JA PreventNCD at the Slovenian National Public Health Conference 2025
At this year’s NKJZ Conference in Slovenia, there was a strong spotlight on the Joint Action PreventNCD (JA PreventNCD), having both a dedicated presentation session, as well as a dedicated project booth. Moderated by Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš and Monika Robnik Levart, the session featured diverse presentations, including: Supportive environments for health as the foundation of disease prevention Evaluation of workplace health promotion and recommendations for future development Whole-school approach to health promotion Health promotion in academic settings with a focus on physical activity Expanding smoke-free environments to open and semi-open spaces Mechanism for meaningful youth engagement in European public health projects Corporate political activities of the food industry and their influence on nutrition policies Wellbeing economy as a sustainable tool for preventive action The first part of the session explored the role of environments in disease prevention and health promotion, while in the second part, concrete approaches and tools of JA PreventNCD for more effective policy implementation were presented. At the conference, there was also a JA PreventNCD’s dedicated project booth. There, the participants could discover more about the project’s goals and engage with the project team members. The presentations and dialogues shed importance of the project, raised awareness of the project’s goals and highlighted the importance of placing prevention at the forefront of public health discussions.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/ja-preventncd-at-the-slovenian-national-public-health-conference-2025/
23.09.2025
Youth Voices at the Heart of Europe’s Cardiovascular Health Plan
On 22 September, the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) of the JA PreventNCD took part in the European Commission’s online consultation on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The consultation was convened by DG SANTE as part of preparations for a new EU Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Plan. CVDs remain the leading cause of mortality in Europe, claiming over 1.7 million lives each year and costing the EU an estimated EUR 280 billion annually. The event gave young people living with or at risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as youth advocates, an opportunity to directly share their experiences and expectations with policymakers. The consultation, led by Antonio Parenti, director at DG SANTE, was framed around key questions from the European Commission, including how to support healthy lifestyles, ensure equal access to care, improve communication with young people, and shape a future EU prevention strategy. Youth delegates responded with lived experiences and concrete recommendations.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/youth-voices-at-the-heart-of-europe-s-cardiovascular-health-plan/
15.09.2025
Statement from JA PreventNCD on the Call for Evidence to the EU cardiovascular health plan
This statement and recommendations from the The Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD) respond to the Call for Evidence−Ares(2025)6517618 for the Initiative EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (CVH Plan). JA PreventNCD is funded under the EU4Health programme and brings together 25 European countries with the common goal of reducing the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), focusing on both personal and societal risk factors. The project addresses health determinants through approaches ranging from policy interventions requiring cross-country and intersectoral collaboration to be effective, through national and local interventions promoting healthy living environments, to preventive care and risk detection, including personalized prevention. Reducing gender-related, socio-economic and geographical inequalities in health is a key priority. All measures aim to protect health equity of European citizens. Furthermore, to strengthen Member States’ abilities to respond to public health challenges, it is essential to have improved data and comprehensive monitoring systems, which include monitoring health inequalities such as those found in the European Cancer Inequalities Registry. To ensure population-level impact, JA PreventNCD was designed to address structural drivers at the population level in addition to targeting high-risk individuals. While interventions across the prevention spectrum are needed, interventions targeting individuals at risk tend to require more personal buy-in, with demands on cognitive and social resources. They therefore run the risk of widening inequalities. To improve health at a population level, it is vital that activities reduce, and with certainty do not increase, health inequalities. A health equity tool is therefore applied across interventions in JA PreventNCD to support the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project’s activities. JA PreventNCD is a unique EU investment in health promotion, NCD prevention and better equity outcomes across Europe, generating deliverables directly relevant for the CVD Plan: monitoring tools, tested best practices, policy recommendations and governance mechanisms. JA PreventNCD recommends that the interventions and initiatives below be included in the EU CVH Plan. These will contribute to lifelong prevention of CVDs and, in many cases, they will also reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity. The activities are evidence-based and supported by the Member States in the Consortium. This statement and recommendations build on inputs received from all work packages in JA PreventNCD. The recommended interventions are structured under three main areas: Early years health promotion and CVD prevention Reaching all by implementing population-level interventions Reaching individuals at risk and supporting personalized prevention
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/policy-statements-recommendations/statement-from-ja-preventncd-on-the-call-for-evidence-to-the-eu-cardiovascular-health-plan/
16.05.2025
Reducing Salt Intake to Save Lives: Insights from JA PreventNCD and WHO/Europe
JA PreventNCD is proud to be at the forefront of policy innovation to tackle noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Europe. One of our Work Package Co-Leads, Dr. Maria João Gregório, was recently featured in a WHO/Europe article that highlights effective strategies to reduce salt intake — a critical step toward preventing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the WHO European Region. Salt Awareness Week 2025 serves as a timely reminder that strong public health policies can have a profound impact on population health. According to WHO/Europe, excessive salt intake is responsible for millions of deaths annually. Reducing consumption by 25% could prevent up to 900,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 2030. Yet, in most countries across the Region, daily salt intake remains well above the recommended 5 grams.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/reducing-salt-intake-to-save-lives-insights-from-ja-preventncd-and-whoeurope/