6 Minute English / Should we eat ultra-processed food?

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Phil. PippaAnd I'm Pippa. PhilIf you've eaten anything today, then it's likely that some of your food was ultra-processed food containing artificial ingredients like additives and sweeteners. Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, from sliced bread to chocolate biscuits and crisps. PippaThey might taste good, but the bad news is that ultra-processed foods have been linked to poor health. They often contain lots of sugar and salt and have been linked to problems like obesity and diabetes. So, how can we tell what food is ultra-processed and what's not? Here's health reporter Annabel Rackham on BBC World Service programme What in the World? Annabel RackhamUltra-processed foods are things that contain five or more ingredients, and things that you wouldn't find in your average kitchen. It's going to have things on there, like emulsifiers, preservatives, additives, dyes and sweeteners. PhilAnnabel describes ultra-processed foods as things containing ingredients you wouldn't find in your kitchen. Do you eat much ultra-processed food, Pippa, or do you try to avoid it? PippaI used to eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, and now I try to cook everything myself and not eat things like chocolate and snacks all day. How about you? PhilI think the same. I try to cook things using just normal ingredients, just so you know what's gone into it. PippaIn this episode, we'll be discussing ultra-processed food as well as learning some useful new vocabulary. And remember, there's also a quiz and worksheet available on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

But now I have a question for you, Pippa. Fizzy drinks, like cola and lemonade, are another example of popular ultra-processed foods, but when were fizzy drinks invented? Was it: a) 1772,b) 1872, orc) 1972? PippaWell, I think it was before 1972, but 1772 sounds like too early, so I'm going to say b) 1872. PhilWe'll find out the answer at the end of the programme. One reason for the popularity of ultra-processed food is convenience. Let's hear more from health reporter Annabel, who talks here with Hannah Gelbart, presenter of BBC World Service's What in the World. Annabel RackhamSo, I do think convenience it is the main issue there. And again, with a ready meal, you put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. It's done. It's hot. It serves you. Whereas, you know, sometimes cooking a fresh meal from scratch that can take a really long time. Hannah GelbartWhat's your ultra-processed guilty food? Annabel RackhamI'm a chocolate girl. A packet of biscuits something like that. A cake. That is my... that's my guilty pleasure. PippaUltra-processed foods like ready meals are convenient. A ready meal is a meal from a supermarket that has already been prepared and can be heated up quickly in a microwave. That's a lot quicker and easier than cooking from scratch an idiom meaning to do something from the very beginning without using anything that's already been made. PhilEven though ultra-processed foods are often unhealthy, they taste good. That's why Annabel calls chocolate her guilty pleasure. A guilty pleasure is something you enjoy but think you shouldn't and feel a little embarrassed about. PippaUltra-processed food is a tricky topic. We know these foods have been linked to poor health, but at the same time they're cheap, convenient and taste good. So, what should we do? Here's Hannah and Annabel discussing this for BBC programme What in the World: Hannah GelbartIs it OK for me to have a packet of crisps once in a while? Should we be cutting ultra-processed foods out of our diets completely, or is there a way for us to still enjoy them from time to time? Annabel RackhamI think the best thing to do is just not to panic. Everything is fine in moderation. PhilHannah asks if it's OK to eat ultra-processed foods once in a while, or from time to time. The phrases once in a while and from time to time mean occasionally sometimes, but not very often. PippaAnnabel replies using the phrase everything in moderation, which advises us that it's best to avoid too much of anything. PhilThat sounds sensible to me, and it also means I won't feel bad about eating chocolate now and then. OK. Pippa, it's time to reveal the answer to my question. Now, I asked you when fizzy drinks were invented. You said 1872. I'm afraid the correct answer was 1772. Apparently carbonated water was used to try to prevent scurvy on sea voyages. PippaWow, that is amazing. I wouldn't have thought it was that long ago. PhilRight. Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with ready meal a meal from a supermarket that has already been prepared so you can heat it up quickly. PippaIf you do something from scratch, you do it from the very beginning, without using anything that's already been made. PhilA guilty pleasure is something you enjoy but feel guilty or embarrassed about because you think you shouldn't do it. PippaThe phrases once in a while and from time to time mean occasionally, not very often. PhilAnd finally, the phrase everything in moderation is used to advise someone that it's best to avoid too much of anything. Once again, our six minutes are up, but if you're hungry for more, head over to our website, bbclearningenglish.com, for more tasty topics and useful vocabulary. See you again soon. But for now, it's goodbye. PippaBye!

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