Study links some ultra-processed foods – not bread and cereal – to poorer health

Commonly eaten UPFs are mass-produced bread, ready meals, breakfast cereals, reconstituted meat products such as ham, sweets, and shop-bought biscuits, buns and cakes.

Experts found an increased risk of poorer health if people consumed lots of artificially sweetened or sugary drinks, or animal-based ultra-processed foods such as processed meat (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Some ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – not including shop-bought bread and cereal – increase the risk of people suffering a combination of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, research suggests.

A new study found no link between ultra-processed breads and cereals, ready meals, plant-based substitutes, sweets, desserts and savoury snacks and an increased risk of suffering a combination of diseases.