US study finds no overall colorectal cancer link to ultra-processed foods
A large-scale study by the US National Cancer Institute involving over 460,000 adults found no overall link between ultra-processed food consumption and colorectal cancer. The findings suggest that the health risks associated with processed foods are nuanced, as some items like whole grains may actually be protective.
Why it matters
This study challenges the broad stigmatization of all processed foods, helping consumers and policymakers better distinguish between harmful and neutral dietary choices.
Chips, instant noodles, sausages and frozen dinners have had a bad reputation for years, long before science began to examine their effects on health. Researchers have linked ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Colorectal cancer has been on that list, too. So, the fear surrounding UPFs makes sense. The evidence has only added to that fear. A new study of more than 460,000 US adults, however, challenges the idea that all packaged and processed foods carry the same risks. The study by researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found that overall UPF consumption was not associated with an increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). The study is published in the journal PLOS Medicine.What are ultra-processed foods?Ultra-processed foods are grouped by how much industrial processing they undergo, and the category is huge.
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