Chris van Tulleken 🏳️‍🌈

Ultra Processed Food, and the system that produces it, has overtaken tobacco in terms of health and economic harms, and is also the leading cause of plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity and deforestation, and the second leading cause of emissions. This week @TheLancet published a landmark three-part series on the science, policy and politics of #UPF. thelancet.com/series-do/ultr…

Recent military escalation across the Middle East is putting millions of children in danger, especially in Iran and Lebanon and stretched resources in neighbouring countries (Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan) are going to come under even greater pressure. Children, as always, will bear the heaviest burden. Please donate to @UNICEF today to protect children in the Middle East and worldwide. unicef.org.uk/donate/childre…

My latest column on childhood obesity and the challenge in getting young kids to sit less & move more theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

If you're formula feeding a baby at the moment do take 5 mins to take part in this important research by @Prof_AmyBrown - and please share.

On the cover this week, a major meta-analysis assesses the adverse effects attributed to statin therapy in product labels. 🏷️ The study found that almost all side effects on statin labels are not caused by statins. The authors call for the labels to be updated. Read this & more: spkl.io/6015AtvkH

Authors of the new Lancet Series on Ultra-Processed Foods are live on Reddit for an AMA. Interested in the UPF science, policy implications, or the broader food systems debate? Join the discussion and ask your questions here: reddit.com/r/AMA/comments…

We’re hosting a @Reddit Ask Me Anything on the new @TheLancet Series on Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health. If you’re interested in the science, policy implications, or the broader food systems debate, join the discussion and add your question here: reddit.com/r/AMA/comments…

We’re hosting a @Reddit Ask Me Anything on the new @TheLancet Series on Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health. If you’re interested in the science, the policy implications, or the broader food systems debate, we welcome your questions. Please join the discussion — and add your question — here: reddit.com/r/AMA/comments…

Very cool to hear that my public health book is being put as core reading on university reading lists like Imperial College, London- the paperback is out soon (April 2026) which will make it more accessible -

Thanks @thebookseller for including my book in your preview: paperback is out 16th April thebookseller.com/comment/previe…

At the moment, in the UK, Coco Pops are not technically unhealthy. This is odd because they are *actually* unhealthy. Here's a thread about some fascinating proposed food regulation which is very likely to be blocked by the food industry...🧵

@DoctorChrisVT @FT Thanks for this Chris. A product with a 50-75% profit margin (higher than any other grocery item) aimed at the most physically vulnerable members of our community and marketed at their parents, who just want the best for their babies - well-overdue increased regulation.

The food industry will fight this new (and fairly small change) despite the fact it will only help and protect children - remember this new definition doesn’t mean a ban or a tax - it just means Coco Pops can’t be flogged to your kids on TV at dinner time.

D'Arcy Williams the new CEO of @BiteBack2030 is a strong voice here who is absolutely on the side of children "Chocolate cereal, porridge soaked in golden syrup and sugary yoghurts are masquerading as healthy options, at a time when a third of 10/11-year-olds leave primary school at risk of food-related ill health in their future, and children are consuming 50% more free sugars than recommended. We welcome the government's move to update the nutrient profiling model so that products containing sneaky sugars are taken out of the spotlight, making room for healthier products to be promoted instead."