Overview

• The analysis demonstrates a continuous, dose-dependent increase in chronic disease risk at every habitual intake level of processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages and industrial trans fats.
• Processed meat consumption as low as 0.6 grams per day is linked to at least an 11% higher risk of type 2 diabetes, with relative risk reaching 1.30 at 50 grams daily.
• Daily intake of just 1.5 grams of sugar-sweetened beverages corresponds to an 8% increased diabetes risk, and heart disease risk rises to a relative risk of 1.07 at 250 grams per day.
• Trans fatty acids contributing 0.25% of daily energy intake carry a 3% higher ischemic heart disease risk, climbing to an 11% increase at 1% of daily energy from trans fats.
• These findings reinforce WHO policies on trans fat bans and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes and highlight widespread confusion over which processed foods genuinely harm health.