New Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods Intake With Multiple Adverse Health Effects

Data from more than 6,000 individuals highlights the potentially cumulative side effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on the human body.

New research adds to the growing concerns over the side effects associated with ultra-processed foods (UPFs), such as sugary cereals, snack chips, frozen entrees, sodas and other packaged goods, indicating that regular consumption of the products may displace essential micronutrients from the diet, increasing the risk of various health problems, even among otherwise healthy adults.

The findings were published last month in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, indicating that diets high in ultra-processed foods often lead to lower intakes of fruit and vegetables, resulting in increased body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure, as well as poorer cholesterol profiles for most individuals.

Ultra-processed foods have become a staple of modern diets over the past few decades, involving products made with highly refined ingredients and chemical additives that are designed to mimic the taste, texture and appearance of traditional foods.

However, many of the additives used to enhance flavor, extend shelf life, or improve texture, such as emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners and preservatives, offer little to no nutritional benefit, and emerging studies suggest that frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods may significantly increase the risk of diabetes and other chronic illnesses, especially among children.

In response to growing evidence that the food industry has known about these risks for decades, a number of families are now pursuing ultra-processed foods lawsuits, alleging that kids were often targeted with products that contain these addictive ingredients, despite mounting evidence of potential health risks.

In the new study, a team of Canadian researchers examined the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and a series of cardiometabolic risk factors in 6,517 Canadian citizens, ages 19 through 79.

Led by Angelina Baric, the researchers used dietary data collected from the Food Frequency Questionnaire and classified through the NOVA classification system as either UPFs or not, to group study participants into quartiles depending on their average daily servings of ultra-processed foods.

Servings of ultra-processed foods ranged from 1.2 per day in the lowest quartile to 5.8 in the highest. The team found that the highest quartile was most often composed of low income males with lower household education as well as higher physical activity and sedentary time.

In addition, higher UPF consumption was correlated with higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure and triglyceride cholesterol levels. Although fruit and vegetable intake was found to attenuate all these factors, higher amounts of food servings usually correlated with higher intakes of UPFs, not fruits and vegetables, the researchers found.

“We found UPF intakes to be greatest amongst households with lower income and education. Targeted public health campaigns aimed at improving consumer awareness, particularly among these higher risk groups, standardized front-of-package labeling, restrictions on UPF marketing, and improving accessibility and affordability of more healthful, whole foods could help reduce UPF intake.”

–Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risk in Canada

Processed Foods Lawsuits

As Americans learn about the growing evidence of long term side effects from ultra-processed foods for children and adults, lawsuits are being pursued against many of the top manufacturers who have sold these products over the past few decades, including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé and General Mills. 

Many of these lawsuits claim that prolonged exposure to heavily marketed, chemically modified products has led individuals to develop conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Plaintiffs argue that companies prioritized profits over public health by targeting children with products that offer little nutritional value and may be addictive.

Attorneys reviewing processed food lawsuits are offering free consultations to individuals who developed chronic illnesses after regularly eating ultra-processed foods. The cases are being handled on a contingency basis, meaning legal fees are only collected if compensation is awarded.

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