Will big pharma like Novo Nordisk entering the UPF conversation benefit food and drink?As the ultra-processed food (UPF) conversation continues to bubble, external sectors like big pharma are looking to exert their power
Nutritionists alongside food and drink industry heavyweights recently shouted down the development of a so called ‘next generation’ Nova classification system for UPFs.
The reason? The project was backed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the controlling shareholder of the big pharma business famous for making diabetes and GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic.
The Nova UPF classification systemAlso read → Outcry as Novo looks at UPF classificationThe Nova classification system developed by Professor Carlos Monteiro from the University of São Paolo has long been criticised as it demonises foods that could be considered healthy.
That’s one of the reasons why Novo began its ‘Nova 2.0’ project, which Monteiro slammed.
After which, a letter of concern was sent to the business, with signatories including Nestlé and even UPF poster boy and Ultra-Processed People author Dr Chris van Tulleken, who called out a conflict of interest.
Given Novo Nordisk “derives substantial profit from the treatment of diet-related diseases”, the letter read.
It went on to highlight how “deeply problematic” it was that such an organisation with vested financial interests was funding a project to redefine the system that seeks to understand diet-related diseases.
Why a new Nova is neededAlso read → Is Nova up to scratch? Why the system is flawedNovo’s project lead, professor Susanne Bügel at the University of Copenhagen, was told by Monteiro not to use the term Nova in the title or objective of the project.
“Do not refer to your project as an improvement or new version of the Nova classification. Do not suggest that your project has any connection with the Nova classification or its creators,” he said.
But Novo’s research wants to rip up the Nova system and focus instead on “health rather than the production process”, said Bügel.
So, will a new system be rolled out by big pharma Novo Nordisk or will the food industry and nutritionists get their way?
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