The world's largest scientific review has found that ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body, posing a significant threat to global health. The review, published in The Lancet, warns that UPF is rapidly displacing fresh food in diets worldwide and is associated with increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and early death.
In the UK and US, more than half of the average diet now consists of UPF, with some groups—particularly younger, poorer, or disadvantaged individuals—consuming up to 80%. The findings come from a series of three papers involving 43 leading experts, who reviewed 104 long-term studies. Of these, 92 reported greater associated risks of chronic diseases or early death from all causes.
Prof Carlos Monteiro, a lead author from the University of São Paulo, said: 'The evidence strongly suggests that humans are not biologically adapted to consume them.' He and his colleagues developed the Nova classification system, which groups foods by processing level, with UPF being category four—industrially manufactured products containing artificial flavours, emulsifiers, and colouring, often high in calories but low in nutrients.
The review also highlights that the rise in UPF consumption is driven by profit-focused corporations using aggressive marketing and political lobbying to block regulation. The authors call for urgent action, comparing the current public health response to that of tobacco control decades ago. They argue that future research must not delay immediate measures to tackle the UPF 'scourge.'
