A Paradigm Shift on Our Plates: Honoring Carlos Monteiro and the Rise of Ultra-Processed Food Awareness
Carlos A. Monteiro, Professor Emeritus at the University of São Paulo, isn’t just a giant in nutrition research – he’s the architect of a essential shift in how we understand the relationship between food and health. His legacy isn’t built on discovering a single nutrient, but on defining a category of food that is reshaping public health conversations worldwide: ultra-processed foods (UPF).
For fifty years, Monteiro’s career has been driven by a deep-seated concern for social justice, initially focused on combating malnutrition, stunting, and anemia in Brazil. As the nation’s dietary landscape changed, so did his focus, turning towards the burgeoning epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. This shift lead to a meticulous analysis of household food purchasing trends,revealing a concerning pattern. Brazilians weren’t simply eating less of customary staples like rice, beans, and milk; they were replacing them with a new breed of ready-to-eat products - formulations built from industrially derived ingredients and additives, often with little resemblance to whole foods.
This observation, coupled with the collaborative work of his team, culminated in 2009 with the creation of the NOVA food classification system and the coining of the term ”ultra-processed foods.” As Monteiro himself states, this system wasn’t merely academic; it was a necessary tool. “This research was only possible because we created the system to identify this type of food.”
The impact has been profound. Boyd Swinburn, a long-time collaborator, hails NOVA as Monteiro’s “greatest achievement,” emphasizing the “real value” of specifically naming UPFs for dietary guidelines, policy development, and understanding the root causes of chronic disease. The clarity provided by NOVA has fueled a surge of research, allowing scientists to robustly investigate the health consequences of a diet increasingly dominated by these formulations.
Monteiro’s journey is as inspiring as his work.Rising from a humble background, he began working at age thirteen to support his family, pursuing his education at night and becoming the first in his family to attend college. this personal history underscores his lifelong commitment to reducing social inequalities through improved nutrition.
Now, through the enterprising NutriNet Brasil study – a cohort of over 100,000 participants utilizing a dietary assessment tool aligned with the NOVA system – Monteiro continues to push the boundaries of knowledge. This research promises to illuminate both the harms of UPF consumption and the protective benefits of traditional Brazilian dietary patterns.
Monteiro’s hope is that the growing body of evidence surrounding UPFs will prompt a critical re-evaluation of food and nutritional policies globally. He doesn’t advocate for entirely new approaches, but rather a rigorous assessment of existing policies - from school lunch programs to tax structures and marketing regulations – to ensure they reflect the latest scientific understanding.Carlos Monteiro’s work isn’t just about identifying a problem; it’s about empowering policymakers and individuals to build a healthier, more equitable food system for all.
