Ultraprocessed foods or “junk food”, containing high levels of sugar, saturated fats and salt could be causing more deaths than deadly drug fentanyl, a new study suggests.
Researchers have examined early death data from nearly 240,000 people across eight countries, including Australia, the US, Canada and Mexico.
Investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Mar deep dives on the risks of ultraprocessed foods in Australia on this episode of The Briefing:
The study found the risk of premature death rises by nearly three per cent. Every time we increase our consumption of this unhealthy food group by just 10 per cent.
In the US, where ultra-processed foods make up 70 per cent of the country’s food supply, that looks like 124,000 preventable deaths in a single year, some 50,000 more than those attributed to fentanyl overdose.
What about Australia?
As for Australia, UPFs make up around 40 per cent of our daily energy intake.
An episode of The Briefing found Australians consume around 17 kilograms of processed meat annually. Meanwhile, the 4 billion dollar industry offers quick-fix meals and pushes high protein diets.
In 2015, the World Health Organization classified processed meat as a group 1 carcinogen linked to bowel cancer.
Over 300 new fast-food stores opened across Australia last year, making processed meat more accessible than ever.
Researchers are calling on governments to update public health messaging to promote diets centred around fresh, minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
A consumer group in the US has called it misleading, saying there is no universal definition of ultra-processed foods and that it will cause consumer confusion. Some critics say this demonises convenient, affordable and shelf-ready foods and beverages.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.