Bad news for lovers of hot dogs, breakfast cereals, and many other 'ultra-processed' foods - scientists confirm that they can cause cancer. These findings are based on studies done in both Spain and France that were published in the British Medical Journal this week.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods can be fatal. The study found that eating five or more servings of ultra-processed food daily increased premature death by 62% AND that every additional daily serving increases mortality rates by another 18%. The main cause of death was cancer, with an average age of 58 at death.
Processed meats, sugar sweetened beverages, dairy products, and French fries were the main foods contributing to the ultra-processed food consumed,” the report said.
One study was done at Navarra University in Spain, which followed 19,899 people over two decades. The other study was done by the University of Paris and the University of Montpellier in France, who monitored the dietary habits of 105,159 people over the age of 18 between 2009 and 2018.
Food categories that are considered to be "ultra-processed" include:
- Chocolate
- Cookies
- Potato chips
- Pizza
- Meatballs
- Doughnuts
- Mayonnaise
- Margarine
- Breakfast cereals
- Milkshakes
- Soda and sweetened drinks
- Chicken nuggets
- Croissants and pastries
- Processed meat, like salami and hamburgers
- Instant soups
- Ice cream
- Alcohol produced by distillation, like whisky and gin
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