Are Ultra-Processed Foods Really Cheap? Reassessing Health, Equity and Environmental Costs Across the Life Course in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Ultra-processed foods, as classified by NOVA, provide a substantial and rising share of dietary energy worldwide. Manufactured from cheap refined ingredients and cosmetic additives, they are engineered for hyper-palatability, long shelf life and profit and are widely perceived as convenient, low-cost options. This commentary argues that such perceptions of "cheapness" are misleading once health, equity and environmental impacts are considered.