Ultra-processed foods a leading cause of 'chronic disease pandemic'

Ultra-processed foods – such as ice cream, processed meats, crisps, mass-produced bread, some breakfast cereals, biscuits, many ready meals and fizzy drinks – are a leading cause of the "chronic disease pandemic", say the authors of a new study. London (PA Media/dpa) – Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a leading cause of the “chronic disease pandemic” linked to diet, with food firms putting profit above all else, global experts have warned. Writing in The Lancet medical journal, 43 scientists and researchers joined forces to argue that UPFs are “displacing” fresh foods and meals, worsening diet quality, and are linked to multiple chronic diseases. They said: “The key driver of the global rise in UPFs is the growing economic and political power of the UPF industry, and its restructuring of f