How Unhealthy Are Ultra-processed Foods?

Ultra-processed foods have been linked to a range of illnesses, but some experts think the definition remains vague (Credit: AFP)

Ultra-processed foods are commonly portrayed as a modern health scourge: a threat lurking on the shelves of every supermarket linked to obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death.

Researchers warning of their dangers have called for taxation and even bans of products which make up a huge proportion of the food eaten worldwide.