Thousands of middle-aged people in Britain are dying prematurely every year as a result of ultra-processed foods, a study has suggested.
Researchers analysed the diets of eight countries then estimated the number of deaths linked to an over-reliance on foods such as ready meals, confectionery, fizzy drinks and processed meat.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, said that about 18,000 deaths in people aged 30 to 69 could be prevented each year in Britain if people ate less ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The term refers to mass-produced foods with multiple ingredients and additives that could not be created in a home kitchen. UPFs make up more than half of the typical British diet.
Diets high in UPF have been linked to an increased risk of 32 different diseases, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, obesity and depression.
