The world's largest scientific review has delivered a stark warning, revealing that ultra-processed food is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body. This consumption poses a 'seismic threat' to global health and wellbeing, according to the comprehensive analysis.
A Global Dietary Shift and Its Consequences
The findings, published in a series of three papers in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, come at a critical time. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are rapidly displacing fresh food in the diets of both children and adults on every continent. The review associates UPF intake with an increased risk of a dozen serious health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
In a startling statistic, the study found that more than half of the average diet in the UK and US now consists of UPFs. For some demographic groups, particularly younger individuals, those on lower incomes, or people from disadvantaged areas, a diet made up of as much as 80% ultra-processed food is typical.
The Evidence and Corporate Influence
The review, which synthesised evidence assessed by 43 leading global experts, indicates that diets high in UPFs are consistently linked to overeating, poor nutritional quality, and higher exposure to harmful chemicals and additives. A systematic analysis of 104 long-term studies found that a staggering 92 of them reported greater associated risks of one or more chronic diseases, as well as early death from all causes.
Professor Carlos Monteiro, a series author from the University of São Paulo, was unequivocal. "The first paper in this Lancet series indicates that ultra-processed foods harm every major organ system in the human body," he stated. "The evidence strongly suggests that humans are not biologically adapted to consume them." Monteiro helped develop the Nova food classification system, which categorises UPFs as Group 4—industrially manufactured products often containing artificial flavours, emulsifiers, and colouring.
The sharp global rise in UPF consumption is not accidental. The review suggests it is being actively spurred by profit-driven corporations using aggressive tactics to drive consumption, skew scientific debate, and prevent effective regulation. Series co-author Professor Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina emphasised that global corporations, not individual choices, are the primary drivers of this trend.
Call for Action and Policy Solutions
The authors argue that the threat is so severe that immediate action is justified by the current evidence, even as they acknowledge the need for more research. The second paper in the series proposes concrete policies to curb the UPF crisis. These include:
- Including UPF ingredient markers on front-of-package labels.
- Implementing stronger marketing restrictions, especially ads targeting children.
- Banning UPFs in schools and hospitals.
- Limiting UPF sales and shelf space in supermarkets.
The authors compare the current global public health response to the tobacco control movement decades ago, highlighting the significant barrier posed by corporate political activities and lobbying. However, they point to success stories like Brazil's national school food programme, which has eliminated most UPFs and will require 90% of food to be fresh or minimally processed by 2026.
While some scientists not involved in the series have called for more research and cautioned that association does not always mean causation, the overarching message from this landmark review is clear: the global reliance on ultra-processed food represents a profound and urgent public health challenge.
