Thousands of UK deaths could be linked to ultra-processed foods
Ultra-processed foods have been linked with tens of thousands of early deaths in the UK in a new study.
If you're anything like the typical Brit, you may well be eating dozens of these foods today alone.
They could include cereal and flavoured yoghurt for breakfast (even cornflakes are often UPF), sliced bread with cream cheese or ham for lunch, a ready meal for dinner, and some biscuits or crisps as a snack.
But these foods could be harming our health in ways that are still not fully understood, the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine says.
They looked at data from eight countries around the world and found UPFs made up 53% of people's energy intake in the UK – the second highest in the study after 55% in the US.
The researchers suggested that in 2018/19, some 17,781 premature deaths in the UK could have been linked to UPFs, according to their model.
Premature deaths attributable to UPFs ranged from 4% of premature deaths in lower consumption settings, such as Colombia, up to 14% of premature deaths in the UK and US, according to their mathematical modelling.
Authors called on governments to issue dietary recommendations aimed at cutting consumption of UPFs.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told Metro: 'This government is committed to tackling poor diets and the obesity crisis to protect future generations.
'We have already taken action to end the targeting of junk food adverts to children, across TV and online and we have handed local authorities stronger powers to block applications for new takeaways near schools.
'We are also commissioning research to improve the evidence on the health impacts of ultra processed foods. Through our Plan for Change, we will shift the focus from sickness to prevention, reducing the burden of obesity on public services and the NHS.'
In recent years, ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, have been a growing concern, with Facebook groups springing up full of people trying to cut down, and brands such as M&S and Crosta Mollica responding with products free of the additives and emulsifiers that typify industrially produced foods.
It follows the smash hit success of the book Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, who went as far as to say many of these new processed substances are not even really 'food' at all.
An exact definition has been hard to pin down, but one popular one is that they include ingredients you wouldn't typically find in a home kitchen, such as E-numbers, emulsifiers, thickeners, and colourings: potentially things like potassium sorbate, soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, guar gum and aspartame.
Here is a list of common ultra-processed foods to be aware of: Sweetened breakfast cereals
Instant soups
Pre-packaged and microwave-ready meals
Fruit-flavoured yoghurts
Spreads
Reconstituted meat – e.g. ham, burgers, chicken nuggets and sausages
Ice cream
Crisps
Biscuits
Soft drinks and some alcoholic drinks – including whisky, gin, and rum
But it's not just things thought of as 'junk foods': even things like baked beans, coconut milk, low fat spread, fruit snacks and vegan burgers can be ultra-processed.
The Nova classification system sought to break it down, splitting foods into unprocessed, minimally processed, processed and ultraprocessed.
The further something gets from its original ingredients, the more processed it is.
We still don't know for sure.
UPFs have been linked previously to poor health, including to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death.
It could just be that they are often high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar,so eating them means we have less room in our diets for more nutritious foods.
But it could be because they tend to include additives and ingredients that are unhealthy, such as preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial colours and flavours.
Some emulsifiers, for example, used to bind foods together, have been accused of disrupting the gut biome and causing inflammation.
Lead investigator Eduardo Nilson, from the scientific body the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil, said: 'UPFs affect health beyond the individual impact of high content of critical nutrients (sodium, trans fats, and sugar) because of the changes in the foods during industrial processing and the use of artificial ingredients, including colourants, artificial flavours and sweeteners, emulsifiers, and many other additives and processing aids, so assessing deaths from all causes associated with UPF consumption allows an overall estimate of the effect of industrial food processing on health.'
Dr Nilson said the study found 'each 10% increase in the participation of UPFs in the diet increases the risk of death from all causes by 3%'.
Probably not the companies who make UPFs, but aside from them, scientists caution that it is too early to rush to conclusions about the dangers of UPFs.
Nerys Astbury, associate professor from the University of Oxford, said it is known that consuming diets higher in calories, fat and sugar can have detrimental effects on health, including premature mortality.
She said: 'Many UPF tend to be high in these nutrients, and studies to date have been unable to determine with certainty whether the effects of UPF are independent of the already established effects of diets high in foods which are energy dense and contain large amounts of fat and sugar.
'The authors of the study conclude that advice to reduce UPF consumption should be included in national dietary guideline recommendations and in public policies. More Trending
'However, rushing to add recommendations on UPF to these recommendations is not warranted based on this study in my opinion.'
She said the Nova system, which defines foods according to different levels of food processing, 'has many limitations, including arbitrary definitions and overly broad food categories' and added: 'More research is needed to ascertain a causal link between UPF and disease and to establish the mechanisms involved.'
You'd have to balance the health benefits with the joy of a little indulgence.
If you really want to be on the safe side, a boiled egg and an apple would probably be better for you.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Fast food chain closing up to 200 locations to pay off $300,000,000 debt
MORE: Plans to 'dim the sun' sparks conspiracy the government is 'changing the weather'
MORE: Popular restaurant chain has only 85 locations left after closing hundreds
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Many runners don't think about sun cream': Belfast Parkrun director speaks of painful skin condition
Eric Montgomery (68) is a familiar face at Waterworks Parkrun in Belfast, where he has been a volunteer and participant since the event's beginnings 15 years ago. However, on Saturday, he marked a milestone with a difference — returning as run director for the 700th Waterworks event, just days after finishing a gruelling three-week course of treatment that left his face raw, red and inflamed. 'I just wanted to give people a heads-up so they're not traumatised when they see my bake,' he wrote in a now-viral Facebook post to the Parkrun community, attaching a photo of his blistered skin. 'Please, always slap sun cream on your gob.' Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun. Though it starts as sun damage, if left untreated it can sometimes lead to skin cancer. The condition is more common in older adults and those who've spent long periods outdoors without protection. Eric, who has spent much of his working life outside — first in the shipyard, and later as a leakage engineer for the water service — said the first signs appeared more than a year ago. 'It started with dry skin on both sides of my eyes. My wife kept telling me to use moisturiser. I tried E45 and all sorts, but it didn't shift,' he said. 'Then about six months ago, two little dots appeared on my cheek, and they crusted over.' 'From now on, my baseball cap will be frontwards — and there'll be factor 50 underneath it' When Eric finally went to his GP, he was referred to dermatology, where the diagnosis was confirmed. 'The consultant explained it to me in simple terms. She said: 'Think of it like angina — a warning of something worse. It can be treated — but if you don't [treat it], it can lead to cancer.' And as soon as you hear that, you panic.' The treatment comprised a powerful cream applied to the entire face daily for three weeks. While the cream targets visible damage, it also draws out hidden damage beneath the skin, leading to an intense reaction that's difficult to hide and hard to bear. 'You wouldn't have seen anything the first week. Second week, it started to appear. But see that third week? Brutal,' Eric said. 'I was up in the middle of the night for hours with the pain. It's like the worst sunburn you've ever had, and then some.' Still, he was determined not to shy away from his Parkrun volunteer duties. 'I'm not looking for sympathy. But I thought: 'If I show my face and tell people what it is, then maybe they'll learn from it,'' he explained. 'Especially in the running community, we're out all year round. And a lot of people don't think about sun cream here. I never did. Not in Belfast.' Eric admits he used to be the kind of person who put on 'a bit of factor 15 on holiday' and didn't think much more of it. But during a recent trip to Tenerife, after his diagnosis, he covered up for the first time. News Catchup - Monday 9th June 2025 'I bought a big floppy hat and used factor 50 every day. I'd never done that before in my life. But once you know what the damage is, you realise you don't want to make it worse.' Waterworks Parkrun was the first ever Parkrun in Ireland when it launched in November 2010, and Eric has been there from the beginning. A member of Lagan Valley Running Athletics Club for more than 30 years, Eric has long been known to regulars as the 'singing run director' thanks to his habit of breaking into homemade songs during the morning briefing: 'People love it. I've made up loads of songs about Parkrun over the years — it just makes it a bit of fun.' His wife, also a keen runner, celebrated her 500th Parkrun at Waterworks last year. Though Eric is the more competitive of the two, he says Parkrun has been the perfect environment for them both. 'She used to be embarrassed about being slow, but that's the whole point of Parkrun — it's for everyone. It's not about the time; it's about the taking part.' On a typical Saturday, Waterworks Parkrun attracts around 250-300 runners. But with the latest being the 700th event — plus Eric's post attracting nearly 1,000 likes and comments — he's expecting a few more attendees this coming weekend, including visitors trying to tick off the letter W as part of the Parkrun alphabet challenge. It's that same community spirit that encouraged him to speak out. 'Since I posted about it, it's been amazing how many people messaged me saying they've had the same thing, or didn't know what it was called,' he said. 'It's sore. It's really sore. But if it gets people thinking about sun protection, then it's worth it.' From now on, one thing will definitely be changing, he said: 'I always wear my baseball cap backwards. But from now on, it'll be frontwards — and there'll be factor 50 underneath it.'
South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Children in most deprived areas more likely to visit A&E and be obese
The organisation has called on the Government to lift its two-child benefit cap after its findings showed that where children grow up until the age of five has 'a significant impact' on their early outcomes and future potential. In the report published on Monday, every local authority in England was analysed against its level of deprivation and a range of early childhood health and educational outcomes. It found that, when considering early years development, the most deprived authorities were more than twice as far away from achieving the Government's 'good level' target of 75% than the most affluent areas. Only four of the 151 upper tier local authorities in England are currently meeting that target. Nearly twice as many children suffer from late-stage, untreated tooth decay in the most deprived areas (29%) compared to the least deprived (15%), while five-year-old children living in the poorest communities are three times more likely to have had teeth removed due to decay, the report found. Almost a quarter of reception-age children in the most deprived areas (24%) are overweight or obese, while general obesity levels in those areas are more than double those of children in the most affluent areas (12.9%, compared to 6%). There is also an average of 1,020 A&E visits per 1,000 babies and young children in the most deprived areas, an increase of 55% on rates in the most affluent areas, the report found. The five local authorities with the highest levels of deprivation – Blackpool, Knowsley, Liverpool, Kingston upon Hull, and Middlesbrough – were each in the lowest 20% for five of the six child wellbeing measures used in the analysis. Some 1.2 million babies and children under the age of five – 35% of the age group's total population – now live in poverty across England, the report said. It added that child poverty has increased more in the UK then in any of the 38 OECD and EU countries. Among the report's recommendations are long-term, sustainable funding and expanding provision for Family Hubs, recruiting an additional 1,000 health visitors a year and making access to Government-funded childcare hours equal for all children aged two or older, regardless of their location or parental employment. Unicef UK, joined by BBC presenter Dr Chris Van Tulleken, will present a petition calling for investments in early childhood, which has more than 105,000 signatures, to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. Chief executive Dr Philip Goodwin warned the consequences of growing up in poverty can be lifelong and said the report's findings were 'not acceptable'. He said: 'There must be immediate, decisive, and ambitious action by the government. Any further delays will entrench inequality and condemn hundreds of thousands of children to poverty and its effects, as child poverty rates continue to rise. 'The Government must act urgently to lift the two-child limit and the benefit cap and commit to investing in the vital health and education services that support children during their crucial early years.' Introduced in 2015 by then-Conservative chancellor George Osborne, the cap restricts child welfare payments to the first two children born to most families. Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'absolutely determined' to 'drive down' child poverty when he was pressed on the two-child benefit cap in Parliament last week, ahead of the publication of the Government's strategy on the issue.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Leader Live
Children in most deprived areas more likely to visit A&E and be obese
The organisation has called on the Government to lift its two-child benefit cap after its findings showed that where children grow up until the age of five has 'a significant impact' on their early outcomes and future potential. In the report published on Monday, every local authority in England was analysed against its level of deprivation and a range of early childhood health and educational outcomes. It found that, when considering early years development, the most deprived authorities were more than twice as far away from achieving the Government's 'good level' target of 75% than the most affluent areas. Only four of the 151 upper tier local authorities in England are currently meeting that target. Nearly twice as many children suffer from late-stage, untreated tooth decay in the most deprived areas (29%) compared to the least deprived (15%), while five-year-old children living in the poorest communities are three times more likely to have had teeth removed due to decay, the report found. Almost a quarter of reception-age children in the most deprived areas (24%) are overweight or obese, while general obesity levels in those areas are more than double those of children in the most affluent areas (12.9%, compared to 6%). There is also an average of 1,020 A&E visits per 1,000 babies and young children in the most deprived areas, an increase of 55% on rates in the most affluent areas, the report found. The five local authorities with the highest levels of deprivation – Blackpool, Knowsley, Liverpool, Kingston upon Hull, and Middlesbrough – were each in the lowest 20% for five of the six child wellbeing measures used in the analysis. Some 1.2 million babies and children under the age of five – 35% of the age group's total population – now live in poverty across England, the report said. It added that child poverty has increased more in the UK then in any of the 38 OECD and EU countries. Among the report's recommendations are long-term, sustainable funding and expanding provision for Family Hubs, recruiting an additional 1,000 health visitors a year and making access to Government-funded childcare hours equal for all children aged two or older, regardless of their location or parental employment. Unicef UK, joined by BBC presenter Dr Chris Van Tulleken, will present a petition calling for investments in early childhood, which has more than 105,000 signatures, to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. Chief executive Dr Philip Goodwin warned the consequences of growing up in poverty can be lifelong and said the report's findings were 'not acceptable'. He said: 'There must be immediate, decisive, and ambitious action by the government. Any further delays will entrench inequality and condemn hundreds of thousands of children to poverty and its effects, as child poverty rates continue to rise. 'The Government must act urgently to lift the two-child limit and the benefit cap and commit to investing in the vital health and education services that support children during their crucial early years.' Introduced in 2015 by then-Conservative chancellor George Osborne, the cap restricts child welfare payments to the first two children born to most families. Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'absolutely determined' to 'drive down' child poverty when he was pressed on the two-child benefit cap in Parliament last week, ahead of the publication of the Government's strategy on the issue.
