Defining ultra-processed foods and NOVA limits

Ultra-processed foods are now the central nutrition conversation of the decade, but the gap between the marketing and the evidence has never been wider. In this episode, I sit down with registered nutritionist and Sunday Times bestselling author Rhiannon Lambert to bring some practical clarity to what the science actually says.

We get into how the NOVA system can be too blunt to be useful, why calorie counts on packets are often 30 to 40 per cent inaccurate, what the most recent UPF and cancer data actually shows, and how to spot the difference between sensible fortification and the additives that are genuinely worth questioning.

What we cover:

• What ultra-processed foods really are, and why the NOVA category is so blunt
• The food matrix and why calorie labels can be misleading
• UPFs, cancer risk, and the UCL home-cooking study
• The UK colourings linked to hyperactivity, MSG, and artificial sweeteners
• How to read a label in under thirty seconds
• Practical strategies for cooking more at home, even on a budget

This is a conversation about reclaiming the kitchen without falling into purism. If it lands, a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify makes a real difference.

To learn more from Rhiannon Lambert, visit her clinic at rhitrition.com, follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/rhitrition and TikTok at tiktok.com/@rhitrition, and pick up her books, The Unprocessed Plate **and The Fibre Formula. You can also find her co-hosting The Wellness Scoop podcast with Ella Mills.

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

• Creator of theproof.com
• Host of The Proof with Simon Hill
• Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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