Experts Warn Ultraprocessed Foods Pose a Major Global Health Threat — Here's How to Cut Back

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2026

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Big Food now supplies over half of U.S. adults' at-home calories through ultraprocessed foods and, according to a study in The Lancet, these foods are now a major global health threat driving chronic disease
The NOVA food classification groups foods by processing. Group 4 (ultraprocessed products) are industrial formulations that displace healthy diets and seriously harm health
Across 104 studies, higher ultraprocessed food intake was consistently linked to poorer metabolic health, faster weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and long-term exposure to harmful additives and endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Most governments rely on weak, nutrient-focused policies and voluntary programs, while industry interference and trade challenges block stronger rules that reduce availability, marketing, and additives in ultraprocessed foods
Transnational food giants shape laws, research, and public opinion to protect profits, so personal control starts with awareness, cleaning your pantry, smarter swaps, limiting vegetable oils, and strong social support

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if the foods you reach for most are quietly reshaping your health, your habits, and even your future risk of disease?
0:07.0	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:11.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:13.0	Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:19.0	No reading required. Subscribe for free
0:21.3	at Mercola.com for the latest health insights. Today we're examining ultra-processed foods,
0:27.1	what they are, how they displace real meals, why global experts now call them a major health
0:32.4	threat, and how you can start cutting back without feeling deprived. I'm Ethan Foster.
0:38.1	I'm Alara Skye, and we'll walk you through the NOVA system that defines ultra-processed foods,
0:43.8	the latest evidence tying high intake to chronic disease, how industry shapes policy and
0:48.6	public opinion, and the practical steps you can use right away to regain control of your plate. More than half of calories eaten at home by U.S. adults now come from ultra-processed foods,
1:00.0	according to a 2024 analysis. That shift helps explain the steady rise in diet-related illness
1:07.0	and why new research in the Lancet warns that these products have become a significant global health concern.
1:12.6	The Nova Classification Groups Foods by degree of processing, not nutrients.
1:17.6	Group 1 covers unprocessed or minimally processed items like fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, and milk.
1:24.6	Group 2 includes cooking ingredients such as butter, lard, sugar, and salt.
1:31.7	Group three combines basic foods with preservation steps, like canned fruit and syrup or fish in
1:37.4	oil. Group four, ultra-processed products, are industrial formulations built from ingredients designed for factories
1:45.3	rather than home kitchens.
1:47.8	That fourth group includes soft drinks, candies, mass-produced breads, margarines, pre-prepared
1:53.7	meats, hot dogs, and instant noodles. Researchers behind the Lancet series describe these products
1:59.8	as displacing healthy diets and seriously harming health across populations.
	...

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