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Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) significantly raises the risk of an early death, according to an international study that has intensified calls for urgent regulation. Monteiro defined ultra-processed foods as being are made from cheap, manipulated ingredients with few whole foods, and often contain synthetic additives that enhance taste, edibility, and addictiveness to make them palatable and habit forming. Research conducted across eight countries, including England and the United States, found that every 10% increase in UPF intake raises the risk of dying before the age of 75 by 3%. According to a paper in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is associated with health deterioration and contributes to one in seven premature deaths. UPFs include products such as bread, cakes, ready meals, and breakfast cereals. They are associated with 124,107 early deaths annually in the US and 17,781 in England. Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson, lead investigator from Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, said that health risks stem not just from UPFs' high salt, fat, and sugar content, but also from additives like sweeteners, flavourings, and emulsifiers used during industrial processing. The author examine the official dietary and mortality data from the UK, US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. They found a "linear dose-response association" between UPF consumption and all-cause mortality. The highest burden was seen in England and the US, where more than half of adults’ energy intake comes from UPFs. In England, 53.4% of daily calories come from UPFs, while in the US it is 54.5%, according to national surveys. The risk was notably lower in middle-income countries. In Colombia, Brazil, and Chile, UPF consumption accounted for 4%, 5%, and 6% of premature deaths respectively. Nilson warned that while the problem is most severe in high-income countries, UPF consumption is rising rapidly in lower-income nations. Researchers called on governments to introduce bold measures such as regulating food marketing, limiting UPF sales in schools and workplaces, and imposing taxes on ultra-processed products. The findings add to previous evidence linking UPFs to a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, While the study found a link between UPF consumption and premature mortality, it suggests that UPF is not a primary cause of early death. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said action had already been taken to restrict junk food advertising to children and to give local authorities more power to block new fast-food outlets near schools. They added that research is underway to better understand the health impacts of UPFs and to help shift health policy towards prevention.
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