Ultra-processed foods cause 62% higher mortality risk

Recent European studies1 have confirmed the risks associated with eating too much ultra- processed food.

When we talk about ultra-processed foods, we’re not just talking about bland vacuum-packed ready meals. The definition also covers all food and drink produced using several processing techniques, such as cakes, ice cream, fizzy drinks, sugary dairy products, battered fish and frozen ready meals.

A large-scale French study called NutriNet-Santé involving over 100 000 people has assessed the effect of consuming ultra-processed products classified according to their level of industrial processing method. Consumption of these products was found to be linked to greater risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary and cerebrovascular disease.

In another study, researchers found a potential correlation between consuming ultra-processed food and any-cause mortality risk in approximately 20 000 subjects. Their results demonstrated that
eating over four portions per day is associated with a 62% increase in any-cause mortality, compared to two portions per day.

1 Ultra-processed food intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective cohort study (NutriNet-Santé)