This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48446924
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ultra-processed food linked to early death | Ultra-processed food linked to early death |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Ultra-processed foods - such as chicken nuggets, ice cream and breakfast cereals - have been linked to early death and poor health, scientists say. | Ultra-processed foods - such as chicken nuggets, ice cream and breakfast cereals - have been linked to early death and poor health, scientists say. |
| Researchers in France and Spain say the amount of such food being eaten has soared. | Researchers in France and Spain say the amount of such food being eaten has soared. |
| Their studies are not definite proof of harm but do come hot on the heels of trials suggesting ultra-processed foods lead to overeating. | Their studies are not definite proof of harm but do come hot on the heels of trials suggesting ultra-processed foods lead to overeating. |
| Experts expressed caution but called for further investigation. | Experts expressed caution but called for further investigation. |
| What are ultra-processed foods? | What are ultra-processed foods? |
| The term comes from a way of classifying food by how much industrial processing it has been through. | The term comes from a way of classifying food by how much industrial processing it has been through. |
| The lowest category is "unprocessed or minimally processed foods", which include: • fruit • vegetables • milk • meat • legumes such as lentils • seeds • grains such as rice • eggs | The lowest category is "unprocessed or minimally processed foods", which include: • fruit • vegetables • milk • meat • legumes such as lentils • seeds • grains such as rice • eggs |
| "Processed foods" have been altered to make them last longer or taste better - generally using salt, oil, sugar or fermentation. | "Processed foods" have been altered to make them last longer or taste better - generally using salt, oil, sugar or fermentation. |
| This category includes: • cheese • bacon • home-made bread • tinned fruit and vegetables • smoked fish • beer | |
| Then come "ultra-processed foods", which have been through more substantial industrial processing and often have long ingredient lists on the packet, including added preservatives, sweeteners or colour enhancers. | Then come "ultra-processed foods", which have been through more substantial industrial processing and often have long ingredient lists on the packet, including added preservatives, sweeteners or colour enhancers. |
| Prof Maira Bes-Rastrollo, from the University of Navarra, told BBC News: "It is said that if a product contains more than five ingredients, it is probably ultra-processed." | Prof Maira Bes-Rastrollo, from the University of Navarra, told BBC News: "It is said that if a product contains more than five ingredients, it is probably ultra-processed." |
| Examples include: • processed meat such as sausages and hamburgers • breakfast cereals or cereal bars • instant soups • sugary fizzy drinks • chicken nuggets • cake • chocolate • ice cream • mass-produced bread • many "ready to heat" meals such as pies and pizza | meal-replacement shakes | |
| How bad were the findings? | How bad were the findings? |
| The first study, by the University of Navarra, in Spain, followed 19,899 people for a decade and assessed their diet every other year. | The first study, by the University of Navarra, in Spain, followed 19,899 people for a decade and assessed their diet every other year. |
| There were 335 deaths during the study. | There were 335 deaths during the study. |
| But for every 10 deaths among those eating the least ultra-processed food, there were 16 deaths among those eating the most (more than four portions a day). | But for every 10 deaths among those eating the least ultra-processed food, there were 16 deaths among those eating the most (more than four portions a day). |
| The second study, by the University of Paris, followed 105,159 people for five years and assessed their diet twice a year. | The second study, by the University of Paris, followed 105,159 people for five years and assessed their diet twice a year. |
| It showed those eating more ultra-processed food had worse heart health. | It showed those eating more ultra-processed food had worse heart health. |
| Rates of cardiovascular disease were 277 per 100,000 people per year among those eating the most ultra-processed food, compared with 242 per 100,000 among those eating the least. | Rates of cardiovascular disease were 277 per 100,000 people per year among those eating the most ultra-processed food, compared with 242 per 100,000 among those eating the least. |
| Dr Mathilde Touvier, from the University of Paris, told BBC News: "The rapid and worldwide increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, to the detriment of less processed foods, may drive a substantial burden of cardiovascular diseases in the next decades." | Dr Mathilde Touvier, from the University of Paris, told BBC News: "The rapid and worldwide increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, to the detriment of less processed foods, may drive a substantial burden of cardiovascular diseases in the next decades." |
| So do these foods damage health? | So do these foods damage health? |
| Dr Mathilde Touvier, from the University of Paris, told BBC News: "[The] evidence is accumulating. | Dr Mathilde Touvier, from the University of Paris, told BBC News: "[The] evidence is accumulating. |
| "Increasing numbers of independent studies observe associations between ultra-processed foods and adverse health effects." | "Increasing numbers of independent studies observe associations between ultra-processed foods and adverse health effects." |
| Last year, a link was made with an increased risk of cancer. | Last year, a link was made with an increased risk of cancer. |
| Prof Bes-Rastrollo, from the University of Navarra, told BBC News she was "very certain" they were bad for health. | Prof Bes-Rastrollo, from the University of Navarra, told BBC News she was "very certain" they were bad for health. |
| The challenge is being 100% sure. | The challenge is being 100% sure. |
| The studies have spotted a pattern between highly processed food and poor health but they cannot prove that one causes the other. | The studies have spotted a pattern between highly processed food and poor health but they cannot prove that one causes the other. |
| Those who ate the most ultra-processed food were also more likely to have other unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking, which the researchers tried to account for. | Those who ate the most ultra-processed food were also more likely to have other unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking, which the researchers tried to account for. |
| But Kevin McConway, a professor of statistics at The Open University, said: "One can't be sure that everything relevant was allowed for. | But Kevin McConway, a professor of statistics at The Open University, said: "One can't be sure that everything relevant was allowed for. |
| "These studies do increase my confidence that there's something real behind these associations - but I'm still far from sure." | "These studies do increase my confidence that there's something real behind these associations - but I'm still far from sure." |
| Why might ultra-processed foods be bad? | Why might ultra-processed foods be bad? |
| The first trial of ultra-processed foods showed they led people to eat more and put on weight. | The first trial of ultra-processed foods showed they led people to eat more and put on weight. |
| Researchers at the US National Institutes of Health monitored every morsel of food that volunteers ate for a month. | Researchers at the US National Institutes of Health monitored every morsel of food that volunteers ate for a month. |
| And when given ultra-processed food, they ate 500 calories a day more than when they were given unprocessed meals. | And when given ultra-processed food, they ate 500 calories a day more than when they were given unprocessed meals. |
| Other suggestions include: | Other suggestions include: |
| These ideas still need researching. | These ideas still need researching. |
| Is there any useful advice? | Is there any useful advice? |
| While the term ultra-processed food may be new, the health advice coming out of the study will be very familiar. | While the term ultra-processed food may be new, the health advice coming out of the study will be very familiar. |
| Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We already recommend people adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, which also happens to include plenty of minimally or unprocessed foods, such as fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils and wholegrains. | Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We already recommend people adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, which also happens to include plenty of minimally or unprocessed foods, such as fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils and wholegrains. |
| "This, along with exercising regularly and not smoking, has been shown to be beneficial for lowering risk of heart and circulatory disease." | "This, along with exercising regularly and not smoking, has been shown to be beneficial for lowering risk of heart and circulatory disease." |
| Prof Bes-Rastrollo thinks there is already enough evidence for governments to start acting too. | Prof Bes-Rastrollo thinks there is already enough evidence for governments to start acting too. |
| She said: "Measures like taxation and marketing restrictions on ultra-processed foods to discourage consumption [should be considered]. | She said: "Measures like taxation and marketing restrictions on ultra-processed foods to discourage consumption [should be considered]. |
| "At the same time, promotion of fresh and minimally processed food is a requirement." | "At the same time, promotion of fresh and minimally processed food is a requirement." |
| Is the ultra-processed label a load of nonsense? | Is the ultra-processed label a load of nonsense? |
| Describing foods as ultra-processed has a lot of critics. | Describing foods as ultra-processed has a lot of critics. |
| Dr Gunter Kuhnle, an associate professor in nutrition and health at the University of Reading, said the studies were important and warranted further investigation. | Dr Gunter Kuhnle, an associate professor in nutrition and health at the University of Reading, said the studies were important and warranted further investigation. |
| But the labelling of food as ultra-processed could be inconsistent. | But the labelling of food as ultra-processed could be inconsistent. |
| He said: "It is also not obvious why salami is considered to be ultra-processed, yet cheese, which often requires considerably more processing steps and additives, is not. | He said: "It is also not obvious why salami is considered to be ultra-processed, yet cheese, which often requires considerably more processing steps and additives, is not. |
| "The classification combines a wide range of foods with very different potential impacts on health, which limits its usefulness as a basis for recommendations." | "The classification combines a wide range of foods with very different potential impacts on health, which limits its usefulness as a basis for recommendations." |
| The studies were published in the British Medical Journal. | The studies were published in the British Medical Journal. |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |