Ultra-Processed Foods: Why What’s in Your Press Matters (and How It Connects to Sustainability)

If you've been on the internet, listened to the radio, or glanced at the news this year, you've probably heard a lot about ultra-processed foods (or UPFs). They're in everything from ready meals to breakfast cereals to that “healthy” granola bar you grabbed on the way to work but beyond the headlines about gut health, weight gain, and chronic disease, there's another side to the UPF conversation that doesn’t get talked about as much: sustainability.

As a sustainable shop, we usually focus on clothing, gifts, and planet-friendly choices but it’s all part of the same bigger picture: how we live, what we value, and the systems we support.

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods, Really?

In short: they’re foods that have been heavily modified from their original form, often containing ingredients you wouldn't find in a regular kitchen like emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings, preservatives, and other additives.

They’re convenient but they’re also usually:

• Packaged in single-use plastics

• Made in factories with high energy use

• Dependent on global supply chains that prioritise profit over people or planet

• Disconnected from local food systems and traditional farming

How This Ties Into Sustainability

Here’s where things line up:

Packaging Waste
UPFs are almost always packaged and often double-packaged in plastic which is a huge contributor to landfill and microplastics.

Industrial Agriculture
Many UPFs rely on ingredients like corn syrup, soy protein isolates, and palm oil. These are often grown in monocultures that destroy biodiversity, use heavy pesticides, and harm soil health.

Food Miles and Corporate Control
Instead of buying apples from a local producer, an ultra processed food might contain apple flavouring made in a lab on another continent. That’s a lot of unnecessary energy, shipping, and processing.

Health and Community Impact
Sustainability isn’t just about the environment, it’s also about health and wellbeing. Communities that rely heavily on UPFs often face higher rates of illness and food insecurity, while small-scale farmers and producers struggle to compete.

The Irish Brands & Locals Getting It Right

Thankfully, there’s Irish makers and food producers doing things differently and they deserve a big shoutout.

Coyle’s of Connemara - A brilliant local business championing Connemara-grown veg and meat and much more. They support local farmers and also stock brilliant Irish brands like Moss Boss—so if you're looking to support sustainable food systems close to home, this is a great place to start.

So-doh! by Laura - Laura runs a microbakery in Renvyle that supplies fresh sourdough loaves and delicious treats every week, with zero UPFs in sight. Made from simple, whole ingredients and loads of care.

John O’Toole’s Freaghillaun Island Organic - Producing local meats right here in Connemara, John’s Freaghillaun Island Organic focuses on honest farming, real flavour, and doing things the right way.

MamaBear Foods – Based in Cork, this mama-led brand creates sauces with no added nonsense. Their tomato ketchup is packed with organic tomatoes and sweetened with honey, not sugar-laden syrups. Simple, honest, and a real hit with kids (and grown-ups!).

Sophie Morris – A familiar name to many, Sophie has become a real force for good on social media this year. She’s been shining a bright light on food labels, calling out misleading marketing, and showing just how easy it can be to make clever swaps in your weekly shop. From calling out UPFs to recommending better choices, her influence has been so big, it’s being called the “Sophie Morris Effect” where healthier products she shares often sell out in supermarkets. It’s a brilliant example of how awareness, education, and real-life tips can spark positive change.

The Happy Pear – Their focus on plant-based, whole foods and minimal processing is something we’d love to see more of in supermarket fridges.

Fiid – Fiid are a B Corp certified business creating meals that are ready in minutes but they’re made with whole plant ingredients, no junk, and fully recyclable packaging. They’ve made convenience more conscious.

NutShed – Peanut butters with nothing extra. No palm oil, no weird emulsifiers—just good-quality nuts, made in Tipperary by two sisters who actually care about what they put out into the world.

So Where Do We Come In?

We’re not a food shop but we are in the business of helping people make better, more intentional choices. Whether it’s a jumper made from organic cotton, a candle poured in Galway, or a gift that supports Irish makers, we believe in knowing the story behind the stuff.

And the same goes for food.

Living sustainably isn’t about guilt or perfection. It’s about curiosity. About pausing to ask, where did this come from and who made it? It’s about slowing down just a little in a world that’s trying to speed us up.

Little Things You Can Do

-Follow people like Sophie Morris for straight-up, no-fuss advice
-Support Irish brands doing it right (like the ones above)
-Don’t panic, just aim for a bit better, a bit more often
-Read labels. If it has ingredients you can’t pronounce, it probably didn’t grow in a field.
-Know that your euro has power and you’re already using it well