Ultra-Processed Foods and Early Death
January 17, 2025 | Source: U.S. Right to Know | by Mikaela Conley
There is strong scientific evidence that ultra-processed foods are linked to severe health risks, including cancer, cardiovascular and liver disease, and dementia. The evidence shows that these hyperpalatable foods, which usually include high amounts of sugar, salt, and artificial additives, are also linked to early death, or increased all-cause mortality.
The term “all-cause mortality” refers to deaths in a population from any cause.
What is the evidence linking ultra-processed food and all-cause mortality?
A multicentre prospective cohort analysis in nine European countries published in The Lancet in January 2025, including 428,728 participants, found that ultra processed foods were positively associated with all-cause mortality, as well as mortality from circulatory diseases, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, digestive diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. “Replacing processed and UPFs with unprocessed/minimally processed foods was associated with lower mortality risk.”