In a stark warning to consumers, the world's largest review of scientific evidence has concluded that ultra-processed foods are associated with causing harm to every major organ in the human body.
A Seismic Threat to Global Health
The comprehensive analysis, described as the most extensive of its kind, reveals that ultra-processed foods (UPF) pose a fundamental threat to global health. These products, which include items like sugary drinks, crisps, ready-meals, and ice cream, are increasingly displacing fresh foods in the diets of both children and adults worldwide.
In the UK, the situation is particularly alarming. More than half of the average British diet is now composed of UPF. For younger individuals, those on lower incomes, and people from disadvantaged areas, this figure can soar to a staggering 80% of their dietary intake.
Overwhelming Evidence of Harm
The findings, published in a Lancet series, are based on a systematic review of 104 long-term studies. The evidence, assessed by 43 global experts, delivered a clear and concerning message: 92 of the studies reported a higher associated risk of one or more chronic diseases, as well as early death from all causes.
Diets high in UPF are consistently linked to overeating, poor nutritional quality, and greater exposure to harmful chemicals and additives. Professor Carlos Monteiro, a professor of public health nutrition at the University of São Paulo and one of the Lancet authors, stated unequivocally: "The first paper in this Lancet series indicates that ultra-processed foods harm every major organ system in the human body. The evidence strongly suggests that humans are not biologically adapted to consume them."
Industry Profits Versus Public Health
The scientists behind the review have raised the alarm on the powerful influence of the food industry. They accuse major corporations of prioritising "profitability above all else".
Professor Chris Van Tulleken from University College London, another author of the series, linked the rise in obesity and diet-related disease directly to a "three-decade history of reformulation by the food industry". He emphasised that this is not about individual products, but a systemic issue: "This is not a product level discussion. The entire diet is being ultra-processed."
The experts also noted that while some countries have begun to implement controls on UPFs, public policy is often lagging. They attribute this delay to the "co-ordinated efforts of the industry to skew decision-making, frame policy debates in their interest, and manufacture the appearance of scientific doubt."
