Do Processed Foods Raise Cancer Risk?

Gut Check: We’ve heard a lot about the potential dangers of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their link to many serious health conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. UPFs now account for about more than half of the calories consumed by the average American. But one recent study has found no connection to UPFs and colorectal cancer (CRC), complicating some previous research on the topic. 

The Study: Researchers from the National Cancer Institute reviewed self-reported dietary-intake data from 461,682 U.S. adults aged 50 to 71 who’d enrolled in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study in 1995 through 1996. The median UPF intake was 1,000 calories per day or 43% of daily caloric intake. All participants were cancer-free at the time of their enrollment and were followed through 2018 to determine which of them developed CRC. Researchers determined that UPF intake was not associated with CRC incidence. 

The Takeaway: Not all UPFs are equal. Whole grains, fiber, dairy, and calcium from UPF sources were inversely tied to CRC incidence, but processed meat was positively associated with CRC incidence, in keeping with current nutrition guidelines. 

Keep In Mind: The study was observational, so no causation can be drawn from the findings.