Policymakers' Understanding of Ultra-Processed Foods in Ireland: Definitions, Perceptions, and Policy Implications

Abstract

With UPFs, we are at a juncture where the evidence of their poor diet-related health outcomes is robust and mounting, yet the policy response in Ireland and other nations is still embryonic. This research is premised on the idea that bridging this gap begins with understanding the perceptions and knowledge of policymakers themselves. Drawing on the commercial determinants of health framework, this study investigates how Irish policymakers define UPFs, how they perceive the evidence (or lack thereof), and what influences their stance, intending to uncover the barriers and opportunities for incorporating UPF guidance into Irish food policy. Ultimately, the goal is that Ireland, like Brazil or Chile, can move toward policies that explicitly address UPFs. Four core motivations shape the focus of this research, namely: (1) Evidence of corporate interference in the contested definitions of UPFs; (2) Widespread misunderstandings of what constitutes a UPF among policymakers and the public; (3) The notable absence of UPFs in Irish policy discourse compared to countries that have embraced the concept, and (4) The public health risks of ignoring UPFs given their strong links to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).