Overview
- Florida Atlantic University researchers analyzing 2021–2023 NHANES data reported that U.S. adults in the highest quartile of ultra-processed food intake had a 47% higher risk of self-reported heart attack or stroke after adjusting for demographics and other factors.
- The FAU study assessed 4,787 adults, classified diets using a validated system, grouped participants by percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods, and urged clinicians to advise patients to cut back while larger randomized trials are pursued.
- A separate Italian cohort from the Moli-sani Study found cancer survivors with the highest ultra-processed food consumption had 48% higher all-cause mortality and 57% higher cancer mortality, with inflammation and elevated resting heart rate together explaining about 37% of the association.
- Both studies relied on observational designs and self-reported diet or outcomes, and the Italian analysis measured diet an average of 8.4 years after diagnosis, limiting causal inference and generalizability.
- Policy discussions are accelerating as ultra-processed foods account for roughly 60% of adults' and 70% of children's calories in the U.S., with January’s Dietary Guidelines advising avoidance and advocates citing tobacco-style measures, including the UK’s new advertising restrictions.