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Vegetarians eat more ultra-processed foods than meat eaters
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
A small team of public health researchers from Imperial College London, together with scientists from the University of Sao Paulo and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, found that people in the UK who follow a mainly vegetarian diet are more likely to eat ultra-processed foods than those who also eat meat.
Research results
The work is based on data from the UK Biobank project, which analysed the eating habits of 200,000 people. The researchers found that vegetarians and vegans were more likely to include ultra-processed foods in their diets, such as:
- Breakfasts based on ready-made cereals,
- Bars and candies,
- Instant noodles,
- Artificial meat,
- Pizza.
These products contain various additives that improve taste, texture, freshness or appearance, but are often harmful to health. In contrast, meat in its natural form is less processed and contains fewer chemical additives.
Why is this important?
Many people switch to a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons:
- Striving for healthy eating,
- The desire to act ethically towards animals,
- Increase in meat prices.
However, the study shows that such a dietary change does not always lead to improved health. Ultra-processed foods can cancel out the benefits of cutting out red meat due to the potential harmful substances in them.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of being mindful of food choices, even for those following a plant-based diet. Giving up meat does not guarantee a healthy diet if the plant-based diet includes a lot of ultra-processed foods.
The study was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.