Study Finds Processed Meat Poses Highest Mortality Risk Among Ultra-Processed Foods

2024.05.10 Fri Posted at 18:50 JST

(CNN) After 30 years of research among American experts, a study has been published that links the consumption of ultra-processed foods to the risk of premature death. However, the size of the effect is different depending on the food.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines ultra-processed foods as foods that contain “ingredients that are never or rarely used in the kitchen, or various additives that make the finished product more easier to eat or which looks more delicious. .

These ingredients include preservatives to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria, artificial colors, emulsifiers to prevent separation, processed sugar and salt, and fats and oils, which are used in products such as soda, potato chips, instant soup, nuggets, and ice. cream added.

A research team from the Harvard School of Public Health and others analyzed data from more than 100,000 health care professionals in the United States who did not have a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Participants provided information about their health and lifestyle every two years for more than 30 years, from 1986 to 2018. They filled out a detailed questionnaire about their diet every four years.

According to a paper published in the medical journal BMJ on the 8th, the group that ate the least amount of ultra-processed foods ate three times a day on average, while the group that ate the least At most he eats an average of seven times a day. day.

The study found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 4% higher risk of premature death. Among them, the risk of death due to neurodegeneration was 9% higher.

However, the correlation between the risk of premature death and prematurely processed foods was not uniform. It was found that processed meat and drinks with sugar or artificial sweeteners had a significant effect on the risk of mortality. “Processed meat and sugary drinks and drinks that may contain artificial sweeteners should be avoided or limited,” the researchers advised.

But, he said, “If you maintain a healthy overall diet, there is nothing to fear.”