Ultra-Processed Foods: What You Really Need to Know (2026)
Readers ask a variety of questions regarding ultra-processed foods. This article is mainly a result of those questions. With that in mind, please accept the following for what it is: a compilation of processed foods related information that is important to know. In recent decades, ultra-processed foods (such as fast-food hamburgers, instant noodles, cakes, potato chips, etc.) have entered nearly every household. They taste good and are convenient and affordable. However, research shows that ultra-processed foods may cause serious health problems, and excessive consumption can increase the risk of death. Update: The New U.S. Dietary Guidelines : Science, Controversy & Practical Eating Advice (2026) A 2024 umbrella review * (BMJ) of the literature confirmed what multiple studies have shown — the higher your intake of ultraprocessed food, the higher your risk of adverse health outcomes. The analysis, which included 45 unique pooled analyses and 9,888,373 participants,...