Thousands of trucks cover Spanish roads every day from south to north towards European markets, carrying all kinds of fruits, vegetables and other foods. Our climate and high agricultural techniques have turned Spain into the orchard of Europe. Steady and diverse production allows us to supply the continent throughout the year. Our country also has the largest fishing fleet in the European Union with 22% of the total catch. The Spanish cattle herd is not far behind our community partners, being a leader in pigs, sheep and goats and third in beef after France and Germany. No one in Europe produces as much fresh, high-quality food as Spain, and no one has appreciated its gastronomy in recent decades to the same extent as Spanish chefs have recognized and prized it around the world. We can be proud of our food and cuisine as a bastion of the Mediterranean diet. Classified as the best and healthiest.
Having what we have and being what we are, it is unfortunate that in recent decades the eating habits of Spaniards have witnessed the development shown by scientific works carried out internationally and published by the magazine The scalpel. The report indicates the extent of changes in eating habits in favor of ultra-processed products It erodes the health of people around the world. The complaint document, signed by 43 international experts, indicates that Spain has tripled its consumption of ultra-processed foods, from 11% to 32% of what we eat in just two decades. This means that We eat less and less fresh produce, the kind that makes us number one in Europe.and more of that processing. And all of this at the expense of the Mediterranean diet, which we are proud of. Although the deterioration of the palate implied by this development is unfortunate, Worst of all are the consequences that the consumption of synthetic products has on the body. With excess calories, sugars, unhealthy fats, low fiber content and with the presence of harmful additives, preservatives and chemicals. They are ingredients that stimulate the appetite and provide very attractive commercial flavors and textures. Add to this the ease of accessibility and convenience of its consumption in a fast-paced society where it is increasingly difficult to find time to cook food, and it will not be easy to reverse this trend.
It is therefore necessary to spread the abandonment of fresh products in favor of ultra-processed products It has medium and long-term consequences for health Of those who abuse the latter. The list of risks involved is long – obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease – and scientists have highlighted them to demand decisive action to stop excessive consumption. The industry behind it is very strong and has the price advantage that fresh foods have reached As for industrial companies, it increased five-fold in the former compared to the latter. Experts believe that halting this drift requires measures to tax unhealthy products and make healthy products as cheap as possible, in addition to greater labeling requirements. A campaign promoting our food said: “Spain is the richest country in the world.” Don’t let the invasion of ultra-processed foods ruin it.