The real cost of ultra-processed foods? 124,000 deaths—and counting!

I’m encouraged by the growing conversation around ultra-processed foods (UPFs)—a long-overdue reckoning with one of the biggest threats to public health.

But what surprises me isn’t the science—it’s how many people (and organizations) are still trying to defend these foods.

Whether it’s Big Food or mainstream professionals trying to soften the truth, many are still finding ways to justify including UPFs in your diet.

So, let me be clear: There’s no such thing as a “healthy” UPF. And trying to fit them into a healthy diet is like trying to strike a deal with the devil…

It won’t end well.

A deadly trend hiding in plain sight

Patients often ask me what they can “safely” eat at popular fast-food chains or casual restaurants. My answer is always the same: I’m not going to endorse it—because I won’t help you harm yourself.

But don’t just take my word for it—the numbers speak for themselves…

A new global analysis found a strong, linear relationship between UPF consumption and premature death from all causes. And each 10 percent increase in UPF consumption raised that risk by 2.7 percent.

That may not sound like much—until you consider that over 50 percent of the average American’s diet comes from UPFs.

In the U.S. alone, researchers linked 124,000 premature deaths in 2018 to high UPF consumption.

That’s 124,000 lives lost—not to accidents, not to genetics, but to preventable dietary choices driven by industry and convenience. Why would you take that risk?

The only way forward is through education

UPFs are more than just “junk food”—they’re industrial products made with extracted or synthetic ingredients and are loaded with chemicals.

They dominate grocery store shelves and restaurant menus—especially in high-income countries, where convenience trumps nutrition.

Furthermore, as long as these foods remain cheap, accessible, and aggressively marketed, they’ll continue to erode public health.

Do you now understand why we MUST do something to change this frightening path? We need REAL solutions—education, subsidies for fresh and organic food, and yes, taxation of ultra-processed products—if we want to reverse course.

Of course, you can’t wait for policy to save you. Start with your own plate. After all, you’re in control of your dietary choices.

Cut out the UPFs. Stick with real, whole foods. It might take a little time, but believe me, your body—and your health—will thank you.

Source:

“Study links ultraprocessed foods to higher risk of premature death, modeling shows.” News Medical, 04/28/2025. (news-medical.net/news/20250428/Study-shows-increase-in-premature-deaths-attributable-to-consumption-of-ultraprocessed-foods.aspx)