Ultra-processed foods have a bad reputation – is it backed by science?

Common dietary advice encourages us to eat whole foods and avoid processed ones. But that is easier said than done given there is no clear understanding of what makes a food ultra-processed or how, if at all, these foods impact our health. Broadly labelling ultra-processed foods as bad could not only lead us to overlook other potential factors contributing to obesity, but may create a whole new set of unintended health consequences.

For decades, public health experts have raised alarms …