Overview
- A global ecological study confirms a linear relationship between ultra-processed food intake and premature deaths, estimating 17,781 UK deaths in 2018/19 potentially linked to these foods.
- A Canadian study using biomarker data shows high ultra-processed food consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure, insulin, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein.
- Ultra-processed foods make up 15% to 54.5% of dietary energy across eight countries, with the highest consumption in the United States and the United Kingdom.
- The findings underline the urgent need for public health measures, including potential food labeling, taxation, and updated dietary guidelines to curb ultra-processed food consumption.
- Critics of the NOVA classification system argue it lacks precision, but researchers emphasize the consistent evidence linking ultra-processed foods to poor health outcomes.