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Studies have shown consumption of ultraprocessed foods is association with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. A group of researchers in Europe set out to see if they might also be associated with higher risk of developing more than one of these conditions at the same time (multimorbidity).
The study followed nearly 270,000 participants for over 11 years and found that higher intake of ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity. This association was strongest for animal-based products such as poultry nuggets, fish nuggets, and hot dogs, as well as artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages. Sauces, spreads, and condiments were also associated with higher risk. No significant association was found for breads, cereals, or plant-based meat alternatives.
In some places, foods that tend to be classified as ultraprocessed, like sweet drinks, reconstituted meat products, and mass-produced packaged snacks, now account for 50 to 60 percent of calorie intake.
This study adds to the evidence that we should limit intake of ultraprocessed foods. These products are typically made by combining food substances not used in home cooking with a variety of additives, so if most of the words on the