BBQ Blunders: The BBQ Foods Fooling Brits
The sun’s out, the grill is on, and Brits are firing up a BBQ storm. According to new research from Vitality Health, and while they're known for being an unhealthy option, Brits across the UK are set to tuck into a staggering 409 million sausages and 390 million burgers this summer.
However, while 59% of Brits are making an effort to eat healthier this summer, confusion remains around what’s actually healthy when it comes to BBQ staples. Nearly half (44%) are unsure whether shop-bought favorites, such as burgers and veggie sausages, count as ultra-processed – despite these often containing artificial additives and industrial ingredients not typically found in home kitchens.
In fact, one in four Brits (24%) wrongly believe BBQ food is healthy, even if its shop bought rather than homemade, and 29% assume that simply cooking food on a BBQ makes it healthier. With over half the nation (54%) admitting they eat more at BBQs than during a regular meal, experts say it’s time to take a closer look at what’s on our plates.
When it comes to healthier BBQ choices, pasta salad (30%), coleslaw (27%), and veggie sausages (24%) are often seen as go-to options. However, with a third of Brits (33%) preferring to buy their BBQ staples ready-made – and 32% saying they don’t have time to cook from scratch – and while these are typically healthy when made from scratch using whole ingredients, many of shop-bought version can be packed with hidden additives and preservatives.
“Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods can be linked to a higher risk of health issues such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, so it’s important to stay informed,” explains James Vickers, Registered Nutritionist at Vitality.
“But with so much information out there, it’s really difficult for people to make informed, healthy choices, so it’s no surprise that nearly half of the nation (45%) feel that BBQs are a nutritional minefield. It often stems from the misconception that all processed foods are bad, or that anything labelled ‘veggie’ or ‘light’ must be good. But that’s not always the case.”
Vickers explains that “while some processed foods, like frozen vegetables or canned beans, can be part of a balanced diet, others - especially those filled with refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives - can have a much bigger impact on our health.
"It’s not just the long-term effects of eating ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that matter - there can be some short-term ones too.
“Overindulging in ultra-processed foods at BBQs can lead to what I call BBQ Burnout - that post-grill slump marked by sluggishness, bloating and fatigue. It’s your body’s way of saying: too much, too fast.”
James Vickers reveals the 10 ‘hidden’ ultra-processed BBQ foods*
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Burger buns
- Veggie burgers
- Marinated meats
- Ketchup and BBQ sauces
- Dips
- Shop bought skewers
- Veggie sausages
Notes to editors
Research was conducted by Opinium among 2000 UK adults in June 2025