Consumption of ultra-processed "ready-to-eat or heated" foods has been linked to premature death

A new study found that more than 10% of all-cause, preventable premature deaths in Brazil in 2019 were associated with
increased consumption of ultra-processed foods.
This is particularly worrisome because Brazilians consume far fewer of these products than high-income countries
.

Researchers report in the Journal of the World Health Organization that ultra-processed foods with little or no natural foods in Brazil's edible ingredients caused 57,000 premature deaths in 2019.

In many countries, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have gradually replaced traditional foods and meals
made from fresh and minimally processed ingredients.
These ready-to-eat or heated industrial recipes, made from ingredients extracted from food or synthesized in a lab, are notoriously unhealthy
.
A new study by Elsevier published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that more than 10 percent of all-cause, preventable premature deaths in Brazil in 2019 were linked to
increased consumption of these foods.
Although Brazilians consume far less of these products than high-income countries
.

"Previous modelling studies have estimated the health and economic burden of key ingredients, such as sodium, sugar, and trans fats, as well as specific foods or beverages, such as sugar-sweetened beverages," explains
Eduardo A.
F.
Nilson, MD, of the Center for Nutrition and Health Epidemiology at Paul University.
"To our knowledge, to date, no studies have estimated the potential impact
of universally effective munitions on premature death.
Understanding the deaths resulting from eating these foods, and establishing how changes in dietary patterns can support more effective food policies, may prevent disease and premature death
.
”

Dr.
Nelson and his colleagues modeled data from nationally representative dietary surveys to estimate baseline intake
of UPFs by sex and age group.
Using data from 2019, statistical analysis was used to estimate the proportion of total deaths attributable to routine nutritional supplement intake and the impact of
reducing routine nutritional supplement intake by 10%, 20%, and 50% in these age groups.

UPF consumption in Brazil accounted for 13 to 21 percent
of total food intake in all age groups and gender groups during the study period.
In 2019, a total of 541,260 adults aged 30 to 69 died prematurely, of which 261,061 died from preventable noncommunicable diseases
.
The model found that about 57 000 deaths in that year could be attributed to consumption of the Universal Action Plan, equivalent to 10.
5% of all premature deaths and 21.
8%
of all preventable NCD deaths among adults aged 30 to 69 years.
The researchers noted that in high-income countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, where daily calorie intake accounts for more than half of total caloric intake, the impact is estimated to be greater
.

Dr.
Nelson noted that over time, UPFs have gradually replaced the consumption
of traditional natural foods such as rice and legumes in Brazil.
Reducing consumption of sustainable food and promoting healthier food choices may require multiple interventions and public health measures, such as fiscal and regulatory policies, changing the food environment, strengthening the implementation of food-based dietary guidelines, and improving consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviours
.

In Brazil, reducing consumption of routine nutritional supplements by 10% to 50% could avert about 5,900 to 29,300 premature deaths
each year.

Examples of ultra-processed foods are frozen pizzas, ready-to-eat foods, hot dogs, sausages, prepackaged soups, sodas, ice cream, and store-bought cookies, candy, doughnuts, and cakes
.

"UPF intake has been linked to many diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers and other diseases, and it is an important cause
of preventable and premature death among Brazilian adults," said Dr.
Nelson.
"Even reducing consumption of routine nutritional supplements to levels just 10 years ago would reduce associated premature deaths by 21 percent
.
" There is an urgent need for policies to curb the consumption
of ordinary grains and oils.
”

Having a tool to estimate deaths from a sustainable development framework for consumption can help countries estimate the burden of dietary changes related to food industry processing and design more effective food policy options to promote healthier food environments
.

Examples of UPFs include prepackaged soups, sauces, ready-to-eat meals, frozen pizzas, sodas, ice cream, hot dogs, sausages, and store-bought cookies, candy, cakes, and donuts
.