The Study
Ultra-processed food consumption and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This study looks at many other studies about processed foods and cancer. It shows that people who eat more processed foods tend to get more cancer, but it can't prove the foods actually cause cancer because there might be other reasons for the connection.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at many studies about processed foods and cancer
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 533 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, these are meaningful increases in cancer risk
- 2Eating more processed foods linked to 13% higher overall cancer risk, 11% higher breast cancer risk, 30% higher colon cancer risk, and 49% higher pancreas cancer risk
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Related Content
Claims (5)
Eating more ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and ready meals, might raise your chances of getting cancer by 13% for every extra 10% of these foods in your diet.
Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and ready-to-eat meals, might raise your chances of getting colorectal cancer by about 30%.
Eating more ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks or ready meals, might raise your chance of getting breast cancer by 11% for every 10% increase in how much you eat.
Eating a lot of highly processed foods, like packaged snacks and ready meals, might raise your chance of getting pancreatic cancer by almost half, according to some big studies on people.
Eating a lot of packaged junk food can quickly raise your blood sugar, cause long-term body swelling, and mess up your gut bacteria. This weakens your body's ability to fight off sickness and makes you more likely to get cancer.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.