23-Year Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Increased Risk of Death

Processed meats and soft drinks are strongly associated with increased mortality.
A recent study found that older adults consuming large quantities of ultra-processed foods, classified by the NOVA system, had a 10% higher risk of mortality over a median follow-up period of 23 years, compared to those who ate less processed foods.

The findings are based on a large study that has tracked over half a million U.S. adults for nearly three decades. According to the results, a higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with modest increases in death from any cause and from deaths related specifically to heart disease or diabetes, but no association was found for cancer-related deaths.