Perceptions of Food Processing and Healthiness; The Role of Adult Eating Behaviours and UPF Literacy

Authors

  • Riya Patel

Abstract

Ultra-processed foods contribute substantially to UK diets and are a growing public health concern.
Consumers often use perceived processing as a heuristic when judging food healthiness.
Individual differences in eating behaviour traits (e.g. food responsiveness, emotional eating) influence food choices and responses to food cues, which may shape how foods are perceived and evaluated.
However, how eating behaviour traits and UPF literacy together influence food perceptions remains underexplored.

References

Bussa, M., Ambrogi, FEdefonti, V., O'Flaherty, M., Chavez-Ugalde, Y. and Colombet Z. 2025. Identifying the patterns of ultra-processed food consumption and their characteristics in the UK adults using the UK National Diet and Nutritional Surveys 2008/09 to 2018/19.Public HealthNutr. 28(1), pe149.

Hassig, A., Hartmann, C., Sanchez-Siles, L. and Siegrist, M. 2023. Perceived degree of food processing as a cue for perceived healthiness: The NOVA system mirrors consumers' perceptions. Food Quality and Preference. 110, p104944.

Schneider-Worthington, C.R., Smith, K.E., Roemmich, J.N. and Salvy, S.J. 2022. External food cue responsiveness and emotional eating in adolescents: A multimethod study. Appetite. 168, p105789.

Hunot, C., Fildes, A., Croker, H., Llewellyn, C.H., Wardle, J. and Beeken, R.J. 2016. Appetitive traits and relationships with BMI in adults: Development of the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Appetite. 105, pp.356-363.

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Published

14-11-2026

How to Cite

Patel, R. (2026) “Perceptions of Food Processing and Healthiness; The Role of Adult Eating Behaviours and UPF Literacy”, Society for Natural Sciences Student Journal, 4. Available at: https://journal.socnatsci.org/index.php/journal/article/view/56 (Accessed: 15 November 2026).