Is processed food really dangerous? New study shatters a common myth

A massive study involving approximately 462,000 people found no direct link between high consumption of ultra-processed food and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, differences were found between food types: processed meat was linked to an increased risk, while bread and cereals were linked to a decreased risk.

A massive study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, which followed about 462,000 Americans over two decades, found no direct link between high consumption of ultra-processed food and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, researchers discovered significant differences between food types: processed meat was linked to a 10% increase in risk, while packaged bread, breakfast cereals, and frozen desserts were linked to a 9% to 18% decrease in risk. The explanation is that ultra-processed foods were the main source of whole grains (over 82%) and dietary fiber, which protect against cancer, but also the main source of processed meat (about 74%), which increases risk. The researchers emphasize that nutritional components are more important than the level of processing, and recommend increasing whole grains, fiber, and dairy products while reducing processed meat. The article notes that this is an observational study that does not prove cause and effect.