They are in almost every kitchen. Practical, quick, sometimes reassuring. We slip them into a bag, heat them in a few minutes and serve them to the children without thinking much about it. And if certain everyday products, installed for years in our placardshad a much more profound impact on our health than we imagine? A new American study, published in The American Journal of Medicinecomes to relaunch the debate.
A national analysis of nearly 4,800 adults
To explore this link, the researchers used data from the large American national survey NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)which regularly collects detailed information on the health and diet of Americans.
The study included 4,787 adults aged 18 and over, surveyed between 2021 and 2023. Participants described precisely what they had consumed over two days. From these data, the researchers calculated the proportion of calories from ultra-processed foods (AUTs) for each person, using a validated food classification system.
Ultra-processed foods are industrial products rich in sugars, fats, refined starches, salt and additives such as sodas, cold meats and even biscuits. In the United States, they now account for about 60% of caloric intake in adults and up to 70% in children.
Participants were then divided into four groups, from the lowest to the highest user of TUEs. The researchers compared these levels to the reported presence of a history of heart attack orAVCtaking into account factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, smoking and income level.
Ultra-processed foods, omnipresent in Western diets, are now linked to higher cardiovascular risk. The American study highlights a significant association with heart attacks and strokes. © Natalya Dobrovolska, Adobe Stock
+47% cardiovascular risk among the heaviest consumers
People in the highest quartile of TUE consumption had a 47% increased risk of having had cardiovascular disease compared to those in the lowest quartile.
These conclusions are part of an increasingly extensive scientific corpus. A large French cohort study NutriNet-Santépublished in 2019 in theBMJhad already shown that a 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Other work has also linked these products to metabolic syndrome,obesityto the insulin resistance and to high levels of ultrasensitive C-reactive proteina marker ofinflammation linked to the risk of heart attack and stroke.
A public health issue comparable to tobacco?
« The issue goes far beyond individual responsibility; it’s about creating environments where the healthy option is the easier optionsaid Hennekens, lead author of the study. Clinical recommendations and public health education are needed to make nutritious foods accessible and affordable for all. »
The researchers draw a parallel with the fight against smoking: as with tobacco in the last century, it could take years for the risks to be fully integrated by the general public and translated into effective policies.
Dr. Allison H. Ferris, co-author of the study, adds: “ Awareness is the first step towards prevention. The growing consumption of ultra-processed foods could contribute not only to cardiovascular diseasesbut also to others pathologies gastro-intestinal. »
While waiting for possible clinical trials large-scale randomized studies, researchers recommend that health professionals encourage their patients to reduce the proportion of TUEs in their diet. Putting raw, simple and minimally processed products back into the center could be a concrete lever to protect the heart.
date:2026-02-13 19:01:00