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Comment and Health

Alarm over ultra-processed food shouldn't put us off plant-based diets

The concern over factory-made fare, especially many plant-based meat substitutes, is often misplaced and lacking evidence, says biologist Jenny Chapman

By Jenny Chapman

21 February 2024

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Elaine Knox

THIS morning, I spread a “mechanical mixture” made through “the ingenuity of depraved human genius” on my toast. I’m sure some of you are thinking I must be in the camp that enjoys a certain divisive, brown savoury condiment that is common in the UK (and yes, I do love Marmite!). However, it was simply an emulsion of vegetable oil and water. A processed, more sustainable and healthier alternative to an animal product. In other words, it was margarine and those alarmist words were uttered about it in the late 1800s by a US politician a decade or so…

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