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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

Ultra-processed food linked to 32 harmful effects to health, review finds

Woman putting ready meal into a microwave
Ultra-processed foods undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colours, emulsifiers, flavours and other additives. Photograph: MBI/Alamy

Ultra-processed food (UPF) is directly linked to 32 harmful effects to health, including a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, adverse mental health and early death, according to the world’s largest review of its kind.

The findings from the first comprehensive umbrella review of evidence come amid rapidly rising global consumption of UPF such as cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals and fast food.

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