New Studies Question the Assumption that Minimally Processed Foods are Healthier than Ultra-Processed Ones

Chicago, Illinois United States of America
Diet soft drinks identified as key contributor to ultraprocessed food consumption
Eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by over 10% for both men and women
Limiting ultra-processed foods does not necessarily lead to a healthier lifestyle
New study challenges assumption that minimally processed foods are healthier than ultra-processed ones
Study comparing two menus found less-processed menu was more expensive and expired faster without additional nutritional value
New Studies Question the Assumption that Minimally Processed Foods are Healthier than Ultra-Processed Ones

In a world where the consumption of ultra-processed foods has become increasingly common, a new study challenges the assumption that eating primarily minimally processed foods makes for a healthy diet. According to research presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting in Chicago, limiting ultra-processed foods does not necessarily lead to a healthier lifestyle. The study compared two menus reflecting a typical Western diet, one emphasizing minimally processed foods and the other focusing on ultra-processed options. Contrary to popular belief, the less-processed menu was more than double in price and reached its expiration date more than three times quicker without providing any additional nutritional value. The concepts of 'ultra-processed' and 'less-processed' foods need to be better characterized by the nutrition research community. Another study followed over 500,000 people for nearly three decades and found that eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10%. The risk went up to 15% for men and 14% for women once the data was adjusted. The study identified diet soft drinks as the key contributor to ultraprocessed food consumption. As a result, it is crucial to consider not only the level of processing but also the types of foods we consume in our diets.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are there any potential confounding factors in the studies that could impact their results?
  • Were all types of minimally processed foods and ultra-processed foods considered in the studies, or just specific ones?

Sources

87%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

These ultraprocessed foods may shorten your life, study says

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Sandee LaMotte Monday, 01 July 2024 12:32
  • Unique Points
    • A new study followed over 500,000 people for nearly three decades and found that eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10%.
    • People in the top 90th percentile of ultraprocessed food consumption listed overly processed drinks as their top choice.
    • Diet soft drinks were identified as the key contributor to ultraprefined food consumption in the study.
  • Accuracy
    • Processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, sausages, ham, corned beef, jerky and deli meats have been linked to bowel and stomach cancers, heart disease, diabetes and early death from any cause.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article makes several statements that could be considered deceptive according to the analysis rules. The author uses emotional manipulation by stating that eating ultraprocessed food may 'shorten lifespans' and 'increase the risk of early death'. She also uses sensationalism by implying that these foods are particularly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Additionally, the article engages in selective reporting by focusing on specific studies that support the author's position while ignoring those that do not. For example, the study presented in the article found no rise in cancer-related death among those who consumed high levels of ultraprocessed food, but this information is not mentioned. The author also quotes experts to add credibility to her claims without disclosing their potential biases or conflicts of interest.
    • , according to a new, unpublished study of over 500,000 people whom researchers followed for nearly three decades.
    • Diet soft drinks were the key contributor to ultraprocessed food consumption. The second one was sugary soft drinks.
    • Eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10%.
    • Highly processed meat and soft drinks were a couple of the subgroups of ultrprocessed food most strongly associated with mortality risk.
    • The risk went up to 15% for men and 14% for women once the data was adjusted.
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and dichotomous depictions, but overall the author's assertions are well-supported by evidence and do not contain any egregious fallacies. The author provides clear explanations of the study findings and does not use inflammatory rhetoric.
    • ][Carlos Monteiro], emeritus professor of nutrition and public health at Brazil's University of São Paulo, in an email. [[Monteiro coined the term ultraprocessed food and created the NOVA food classification system, which looks beyond nutrients to how foods are made. Monteiro was not involved in the study, but several members of the NOVA classification system were coauthors.]][/]
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Diet that limits ultra-processed foods isn’t automatically healthy, study shows

United Press International (UPI) Susan Kreimer Sunday, 30 June 2024 17:45
  • Unique Points
    • A diet that limits ultra-processed foods isn’t automatically healthy, according to a new study.
    • The less-processed menu was more than double in price and reached its expiration date more than three times more quickly without providing any additional nutritional value.
  • Accuracy
    • Both ultra-processed and less processed foods can have a low healthy eating score, the study shows.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Dr. Zhaoping Li and Allen Levine. The study itself is not described in detail, only the findings are reported. This lack of context could potentially lead to a misunderstanding of the study's implications.
    • ][Dr. Zhaoping Li], a professor of medicine and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles, advises consuming various fresh and nutrient-dense foods whenever possible.[/]
    • [Allen Levine, a professor emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, told UPI via email.]
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Limiting ultra-processed foods does not necessarily make for a healthy diet

EurekAlert Monday, 01 July 2024 17:12
  • Unique Points
    • A new study challenges the assumption that eating primarily minimally processed foods makes for a healthy diet.
    • Julie Hess, PhD led the study and noted that some nutrient-dense packaged foods can be classified as ultra-processed.
    • The concepts of ‘ultra-processed’ and ‘less-processed’ foods need to be better characterized by the nutrition research community.
  • Accuracy
    • The less-processed menu was more than twice as expensive and had a shorter shelf life compared to a more-processed menu, without delivering any additional nutritional value.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication