Risks Associated with Ultraprocessed Foods

For the first time, federal government dietary guidelines, issued in January 2026, call for a “reduction in highly processed foods” in addition to traditional advice regarding food groups and nutritional content (Figure 1). The guidelines cite the growing prevalence of ultraprocessed foods in food supplies and their association with a variety of chronic illnesses. Still, uncertainty persists about the importance of food processing relative to traditional nutritional quality as dietary risk factors. Several observational studies now provide further data.