Overview
- A Journal of the American College of Cardiology study of about 6,800 U.S. adults found that eating more than nine daily servings of ultra‑processed foods was linked to a 67% higher chance of a major cardiac event.
- Risk rose by roughly 5% with each extra daily serving, with a larger per‑serving increase in Black participants at 6.1% versus 3.2% in other groups.
- The associations held even after adjusting for calories and overall diet quality, suggesting the level of processing poses added risk beyond poor nutrition.
- Ultra‑processed foods include packaged snacks, sugary cereals, instant meals, processed meats, and soft drinks, and CDC data show they make up more than half of U.S. adults’ daily calories.
- A companion 2026 review highlights additives and pathways like inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiome disruption, and researchers urge cutting back on ultra‑processed items in favor of whole or minimally processed foods.