ultra-processed foods and drinks

A March 2021 study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that that ultra-processed foods and drink is associated with a risk of colorectal cancer.

The researchers consider this link to explained partly by

“the low intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables, which are known to offer protection against colorectal cancer, among people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, but also by the additives and other substances with carcinogenic potential typically used in processed food products."

"This finding is not surprising and is consistent with the results of previous studies of dietary factors and prostate cancer risk, in which no link was found,”

"We found differences in terms of their intake of energy, fibre, energy density and saturated fatty acids. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages was higher among colorectal and breast cancer cases than in the controls”

"ultra-processed foods and drinks in general are not yet classified as carcinogenic because the aim of the IARC was not to assess the overall risk of an individual's diet, but rather to focus on specific components that might be dangerous, such as processed meats".