Two studies have pointed to a potential link between a high intake of food such as ready meals and packaged snacks, and damage to health.
Ultra-processed foods have gone through physical and chemical processes to make them taste and look good, and easy and convenient to eat.
They often has a long list of ingredients and are typically higher in sugar, salt and fat, with lower fibre and vitamin content.
They may also have a long list of additives, such as flavourings and preservatives.
The first of the two studies, both published in the British Medical Journal, looked at more than 105,000 French adults.
Researchers at NutriNet Sante – an ongoing web-based study in France – found a 10% increase in ultra-processed food was linked with a 12% increased risk of cardiovascular disease, 13% increase of coronary heart disease, and 11% for cerebrovascular diseases – which affect the blood supply to the brain and can lead to a stroke.
The second study, from the University of Navarra in Spain, looked at around 20,000 adults over a decade.
It found that having more than four daily servings of ultra-processed food was linked to a 62% increased risk of death from any cause, compared with those who ate less than two servings.
Each additional serving increased the risk by 18%.
Researchers from the university said higher taxes and advertising restrictions on ultra-processed foods should be considered to lead people away from unhealthy food.
Unsurprisingly, minimally processed and unprocessed foods – such as fruit and veg – are still seen as the best way to stay healthy.
“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,” said British Heart Foundation dietitian Victoria Taylor.
“This, along with exercising regularly and not smoking, has been shown to be beneficial for lowering risk of heart and circulatory disease.”
Ultra-processed foods include: Fizzy drinks, chocolate and sweets, chicken and fish nuggets, hamburgers, meatballs, mass-produced bread and buns, instant soup and noodles, cereal bars, ready meals.
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods: Fruit, vegetables, pulses, rice, seeds, pasta, eggs, fresh meat, fish and milk.
