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 In what may be the most powerful attack on junk food published by any government in the world, Brazil is urging its citizens to avoid such “ultra-processed products” as chicken nuggets, potato chips, and soft drinks.

“Because of their ingredients, ultra-processed products-such as packaged snacks, soft drinks and instant noodles-are nutritionally unbalanced,” says the new book
Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population.

“As a result of their formulation and presentation, [ultra-processed products] tend to be consumed in excess, and displace natural or minimally processed foods. Their means of production, distribution, marketing and consumption damage culture, social life and the environment,” continue the guidelines, which were developed with the support of the Pan American Health Organization and published by the Brazilian Health Ministry on Oct. 5. They were released in English in Washington on Friday at a conference at George Washington University on new U.S. dietary guidelines.

The Brazilian guidelines have international importance because they mark the first time a developing country appears to be trying to stop a change in consumer behavior before the modern processed-food industry dominates its food purchasing and eating patterns.

Carlos Monteiro, a University of São Paulo professor of nutrition and health who led the technical team that developed the guidelines, said in his speech at GW that 70 percent of Brazilian food still comes from raw or minimally processed foods.

But Brazil is a country of 200 million consumers, the fifth most populous in the world, and a vast potential market for processed food as its population grows more prosperous and urbanizes.

“The golden rule” of the guidelines, Monteiro said, is “always prefer a variety of minimally processed foods and freshly prepared dishes and meals to ultra-processed foods.”

The big problem with ultra-processed foods, Monteiro said, is that they interfere with the consumption of healthier food. If someone eats chicken nuggets, that person will not eat freshly prepared chicken, he said, and someone having a soft drink will not drink milk at that meal.