How dangerous are ultra-processed foods?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are displacing healthy eating "around the world", despite growing evidence of the risks they pose.
They should be sold with warning labels on the packaging, similar to those for tobacco products, according to a specialist in healthy nutrition.
Professor Carlos Monteiro of the University of Sao Paulo will highlight the growing danger posed by junk food to children and adults at the International Congress on Obesity this week.
"Such foods are increasing their share and dominating the world diet, despite the risk they pose to health, as they increase the risk of many chronic diseases," Monteiro told the Guardian ahead of the conference in Sao Paulo.
"SPCs are displacing healthier and less processed foods around the world, and are also leading to a deterioration in the quality of nutrition due to their harmful properties. These foods are driving the obesity pandemic and other chronic nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes," Monteiro pointed out.
The stark warning comes amid rapidly growing global consumption of SPS, such as cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals and other fast foods.
In the UK and US, more than half of the average diet now consists of ultra-processed foods. For some people, especially those who are younger, poorer or from disadvantaged areas, a diet including up to 80% FFA is typical.
In February, the largest review of its kind in the world found that STDs are directly linked to 32 harmful health outcomes, including a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, adverse mental health and early death. | BGNES