More than three quarters of the UK public are concerned about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), according to new survey data.
This places UPFs as the second biggest food issue of concern for the UK public, having leapfrogged food poverty and inequality since August 2023.
Only food prices count as an issue of greater concern, according to the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) consumer insights tracker, a monthly tracking survey that monitors changes in consumers’ behaviour and attitudes in relation to food.
As of March 2025, 87% of people surveyed said they were highly or somewhat concerned about food prices compared with 78% who said the same for UPFs.
Evidence continues to mounts over the harm caused by diets high in UPFs, although research to-date has mostly shown correlation with negative health outcomes rather than causation. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is currently funding a project asking the public for their views on UPFs, including how they affect our health as well as their governance and regulation.
Presenting its key survey findings for the year between April 2024 and March 2025, the FSA also found growing unease about ingredients and additives, which has now surpassed animal welfare among consumer concerns and sits level with general healthiness of diets, and food poverty and inequality on 72%.
The survey also asked consumers about their attitudes towards cell-cultivated meat. Responses were largely negative with around a quarter of respondents saying they would be willing to give lab-grown meat a try when available, while almost 60% said they would not include it in their diet.
Cell-cultivated products are not currently available to buy in the UK, however cultivated meat company, Gourmey, recently announced it had passed a regulatory milestone after its application for approval was validated by both the FSA and Food Standards Scotland. This is the first stage in a risk assessment process that could ultimately lead to Gourmey products being authorised for sale in the UK market.
