EU Food Law and Ultra-Processed Food Markets: Safety from What and for Whom?

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the limitations of EU food law in safeguarding public health within ultra-processed food (UPF) markets, focusing on food additives as a case study. It critiques the EU’s reliance on macronutrient profiling and consumer informational regulation, arguing these approaches inadequately address systemic health risks associated with UPFs. By analysing current food additive regulations, the article maps out gaps in the EU’s food safety assessments, including the failure to consider cumulative and long-term health effects of additive consumption. It also shows how these risks are distributed unequally within structurally inequitable UPF markets, disproportionately burdening the most vulnerable consumers. The article critiques the EU’s focus on individual responsibility for dietary choices and calls for a reassessment of food safety standards to address structural risks and ensure equitable safety access within UPF markets.