Ultra-Processed People

Archival Summary & Scope

New York Times Bestseller. Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year.
“A fearless investigation into how we have become hooked.” —Financial Times

*Ultra-Processed People* is a groundbreaking manifesto asserting: it's not you, it's the food. We now consume an unprecedented amount of Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)—items often wrapped in plastic with unfamiliar ingredients, engineered for addiction. These ubiquitous products, driving excess consumption, are linked to global early death and environmental destruction, yet form the core of our modern diet due to their affordability and availability.

Scientist, doctor, and BBC broadcaster Chris van Tulleken exposes how food companies, enabled by governments and scientists, have created a pandemic of diet-related disease. Rejecting willpower as the solution, van Tulleken undertakes a powerful, headline-making self-experiment: a month on an 80% UPF diet, observing its scientific impact and consulting global experts. This journey not only reveals UPF's catastrophic effects but also breaks his own addiction.

In a fast-paced, eye-opening narrative, *Ultra-Processed People* explores UPF's origins, science, and economics, detailing its profound impact on our bodies and the planet. Offering real solutions for individuals, doctors, and policymakers, this book will fundamentally change how you shop, eat, and understand the urgent need for global action.