A new study has found that people with diets that include high amounts of ultra-processed food (UPFs) could be at risk of dying early.
The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and conducted across eight countries including the UK and the US, used previous studies to conclude that there could be a link between eating UPFs and early mortality rates.
The study suggested that in 2018-19, around 17,780 premature deaths in the UK could have been linked to UPFs.
The study, which examined data from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the UK and the US, makes clear that it cannot definitively prove that UPFs alone cause early death.
Ultra-processed foods might typically contain five or more ingredients that are not found when food is cooked from scratch, for example sweeteners and additives, as well as high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar.
UFPs found on supermarket shelves include items such as biscuits, fizzy drinks, breakfast cereals and processed meats such as hot dogs or bacon.
The foods have previously been linked to an increased risk of early death and a range of health issues, including obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.