Thousands of heart disease deaths could be prevented if people cut back on ultra-processed foods, according to a modelling study that suggests junk food may be driving up to a third of cases.
Researchers in Canada found that between 23% and 37% of heart disease cases, and between 23% and 38% of heart disease deaths, could be attributable to ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and presented at the annual International Congress on Obesity in Mexico.
“Study: 23–38% of heart disease deaths may be linked to ultra-processed foods; thousands could be prevented by cutting intake.”
UPFs now account for more than half the average diet in the UK and US, according to the study. For some people, especially those who are younger or from disadvantaged areas, UPFs can make up as much as 80% of their diet. Previous research has linked UPFs to harm in every major organ system.
Virginie Hamel and Jean-Claude Moubarac, from the Center for Public Health Research at Montreal University, led the study, which focused on Canada. They estimated that thousands of deaths could be prevented across Canada if the population reduced its consumption of UPFs. While estimates may vary slightly, the researchers said similar results could be expected in other high-income countries.
UPFs may account for “a substantial and potentially preventable” contributor to heart disease, the researchers said. “These findings reinforce the need for clinical and public health interventions aimed at reducing UPF intake as a key component of cardiovascular disease prevention.”
They said UPFs dominated the food environment in Canada, making excessive consumption “a widespread and largely involuntary phenomenon”. The researchers called for “comprehensive structural measures” including “regulations on food taxes, front-of-package labelling, marketing restrictions and reformulation targets” to drive meaningful change.
However, some experts not involved with the study questioned the findings. Prof Gunter Kuhnle, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, said: “This modelling study is based on the assumption that so-called ultra-processed food consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is very little reliable evidence that this is the case.”
The study’s findings apply to Canada, but cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in the UK, where over 8 million people are thought to have it, and it accounts for a quarter of all deaths. The term UPF describes foods significantly changed from their original form, containing additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers, and artificial colours and flavours. Examples include ready meals, breakfast cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, crisps, biscuits, and processed meats.