A doctor has issued a warning about a type of food consumed by millions of people every day, claiming its impact on public health could be even more concerning than smoking.
Dr Chris van Tulleken, an infectious disease doctor and associate professor at University College London, believes many people are unaware of the potential consequences of regularly consuming certain everyday foods.
Speaking on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast, the doctor explained how modern eating habits have changed dramatically, with convenience and affordability increasingly influencing what people put on their plates.
And while many of these products are considered normal parts of a daily diet, research has linked higher consumption to several serious health conditions.
What is the food the doctor is warning about?
The warning concerns ultra-processed foods, commonly referred to as UPFs.
These are industrially manufactured products that often contain ingredients not typically used in home cooking, including certain emulsifiers, flavourings, colourings and other additives.
Examples can include packaged snacks, sugary breakfast cereals, instant noodles, some ready meals, processed meat products and certain mass-produced baked goods.
However, not every product within these categories has the same nutritional profile, and processing alone does not automatically make a food unhealthy.
Dr van Tulleken, who has extensively researched the subject, argues that the widespread availability of ultra-processed products has fundamentally changed the way people eat.
He believes their increasing dominance in modern diets represents a major public health concern.
Why did the doctor compare these foods to smoking?
During his appearance on the podcast, Dr van Tulleken argued that poor diets have become an enormous contributor to preventable illness and premature death worldwide.
He claimed that diets dominated by ultra-processed foods have overtaken tobacco as a leading cause of early death.
His comments reflect wider concerns about the global burden of unhealthy diets, although the comparison requires important context.
Smoking is an established direct cause of numerous diseases, including lung cancer, while much of the research examining ultra-processed food consumption is observational.
That means studies can identify associations between dietary patterns and health outcomes without necessarily proving that the processing itself causes those conditions.
There is also no established scientific consensus that eating ultra-processed foods is individually more dangerous than smoking cigarettes.
What health problems have been linked to ultra-processed foods?
Research has associated diets high in ultra-processed foods with an increased risk of several health problems.
These include obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
A major umbrella review published in the British Medical Journal in 2024 examined evidence from multiple studies and identified associations between greater ultra-processed food exposure and numerous adverse health outcomes.
However, the strength and certainty of the evidence varied considerably between conditions.
Researchers have also investigated possible links with colorectal cancer and other digestive system cancers, although findings do not establish that every ultra-processed product carries the same risk.
Scientists continue to examine whether the observed associations are driven by nutritional content, additives, eating patterns or other lifestyle factors.
Why are millions of people eating these foods every day?
One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of ultra-processed foods is convenience.
Many products can be eaten immediately or prepared within minutes, making them attractive to people balancing work, family responsibilities and other commitments.
They can also be cheaper and easier to store than fresh alternatives, particularly for households managing limited food budgets.
Dr van Tulleken argues that the modern food industry has helped create an environment where heavily manufactured products are increasingly difficult to avoid.
He also highlighted environmental concerns associated with industrial food production, including packaging waste and emissions.
Should people stop eating ultra-processed foods completely?
Health experts generally recommend focusing on overall dietary quality rather than assuming that every processed product is harmful.
Foods such as wholegrain bread, fortified cereals and some plant-based alternatives can fall within ultra-processed classifications while still providing useful nutrients.
The NHS advises people to maintain a balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and appropriate sources of protein.
Limiting foods high in added sugar, salt and saturated fat can also help support long-term health.
For people who rely on ready-made products because of cost, time or accessibility, small changes may be more practical than eliminating entire food categories.
Ultimately, Dr van Tulleken's warning highlights growing scientific interest in how modern diets affect health, while researchers continue working to understand the precise risks associated with different types of ultra-processed food.
