Eating ultra-processed food could be risky. Food like sausages, frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals and sodas increase the risk of cancer, heart disease or early death. Ultra-processed food is made from ingredients that are largely or totally from a laboratory. They are things like preservatives, flavour enhancers and colourings. Men are at greater risk. Men who ate a lot of ultra-processed food have a 29 per cent higher risk of getting bowel cancer.

We are eating more and more ultra-processed food. It is now two-thirds of the calories in the diets of young Americans. Children who eat ultra-processed food gain weight more quickly than those who eat well balanced diets. A doctor advised us to eat better to look after our bodies. She said we should eat less ultra-processed food to help prevent cancer, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.