A new has revealed that ultra-processed foods such as chicken nuggets and hotdogs could lead to an early death.
The research, which tracked more than 114,000 adults, found the highest risks were associated with meats like ham and sausages, with regular consumers 13 percent more likely to die over the 34 years tracked. Those who consumed high amounts of sugary and artificially sweetened drinks were also at an increased risk, being nine percent more likely to die.
Meanwhile, people munching on packaged goods and snacks were found to be four percent more likely to die, the 30-year study from Harvard University found. These foods are known to have links to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer. The major study was one of the few to track such a long period of time and examine the overall deaths of people involved.
It also looked into the impact of different ultra-processed foods. The study found dairy desserts like cheesecake and fromage frais saw a six percent increase in deaths, while breads and breakfast cereal increased the likelihood by four per cent. The study followed 74,563 female nurses and 39,501 male health workers between 1984 and 2018. Female participants were aged between 30 and 55 at the start of the research, while men were between 40 and 75, reports the Express.
Participants were asked to provide information on their health and lifestyle habits every two years, with detailed food data collected every four years. During the study period, researchers identified 48,193 deaths from cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases.
The study found that those who consumed high amounts of ultra-processed food – around seven servings daily – had a four percent higher risk than those who ate the least. The most significant links to death were found with ready-to-eat meat, poultry and seafood products, such as sausages, ham, hot dogs, convenience meals and processed snacks.
“Our findings suggest that meat/poultry/seafood-based ready-to-eat products and sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages are major factors contributing to the harmful influence of ultra-processed foods on mortality,” concluded researchers from Harvard’s Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition. They added that the results “provide support for limiting consumption of certain types of ultra-processed foods for long-term health.”
Ultra-processed foods typically include packaged baked goods, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or heat products. They often contain colourings, emulsifiers, flavors and additives. These foods are usually high in energy, added sugar, saturated fat and salt, but lack vitamins and fiber.
There is no clear definition of what constitutes ultra-processed food, leading to ongoing debates among nutritionists about items such as wholemeal bread. The Harvard study classified wholegrain foods as non-ultra-processed, with researchers highlighting their exclusion due to the proven benefits they offer in reducing mortality rates.
