“We looked at the risk of a person dying from eating more ultra-processed foods between the ages of 30 and 69.” — Carlos Augusto Monteiro
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be responsible for tens of thousands of premature deaths, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data from eight countries and found that UPFs — high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats — could account for 124,000 early deaths in the US alone in 2018.
“We looked at the risk of a person dying from eating more ultra-processed foods between the ages of 30 and 69, a time when it would be premature to die,” said Carlos Augusto Monteiro, study co-author and emeritus professor at Brazil’s University of São Paulo.
Each 10% increase in calories from UPFs raised the risk of early death by nearly 3%, according to findings published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
However, critics like Sarah Gallo of the Consumer Brands Association called the research “misleading,” arguing there is “no scientific agreement on the definition of ultra-processed foods” and warning that demonizing convenient foods could worsen health disparities.