Eating ultra-processed foods has been linked to an increased risk of early death.
Eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods raises the prospect of an early death
Experts at Harvard University tracked more than 114,000 healthy adults in the US over a period of 30 years to discover the long-term health consequences of their diets.
It was revealed that diets containing a lot of ultra-processed foods (UPF) were linked to a raised risk of death, with processed meats and fizzy drinks presenting the most danger to health.
The study adds to increasing evidence linking UPFs to a higher risk of health problems including obesity, heart disease and bowel cancer.
Commenting on the research, Professor Christine Williams of the University of Reading said: "These categories of foods have long been advised to be eaten in modest quantities due to potentially adverse effects on body weight, cholesterol levels, and in the case of processed meats, colorectal cancers."