29.04.2025.
A new study suggests that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods could raise the risk of dying early — but more research is needed to confirm if these foods are the direct cause.
Ultra-processed foods include items like crisps, instant noodles, sweetened cereals, and sausages. These foods usually have artificial colours and flavours, and are often high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt.
The research found that for every 10% increase in the amount of ultra-processed food in a person’s diet, the risk of premature death went up by 2.7%.
The study included people aged 30 to 69 from eight countries, such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
While ultra-processed food consumption has been high but stable in wealthy countries, it is increasing in lower- and middle-income countries.
Seeing the same patterns across different countries suggests that ultra-processed foods could play a bigger role in health risks than previously thought.
Previous studies have also linked ultra-processed foods to a higher risk of heart disease, aneurysms, digestive issues, and Parkinson’s disease, though not to cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists are still trying to understand if the health risks come from the poor nutritional quality of these foods or the way they are industrially processed.
Research is also challenging because there is no clear definition of what exactly counts as ultra-processed food.
