Brain scans reveal shocking truth about ultra-processed foods as Australian farmers call for change

Key points

• A Virginia Tech neuroscientist, Alex Di Feliceantonio, says diet can reshape how the brain functions. Researchers used brain scans on 60 participants comparing healthy meals with ultra-processed meals matched for sugar and fat.
• The processed meals produced a different metabolic response and stimulated a brain region tied to motivation and reward. They also caused larger, longer-lasting spikes in insulin and blood sugar.
• Gippsland Jersey farmer Sallie Jones, who sells fresh milk directly, says rising sugar intake is harming her son's behaviour and mood. CSIRO modelling predicts Australian diets could worsen by 2030.