lung cancer warning for 'lunch meat' and fizzy drinks after new study

UPFs have previously been linked with dozens of harmful effects and health warnings,from type 2 diabetes to shorter life expectancy (Picture: Getty Images)

Foods which make up to half the average diet have been linked with an increased risk of lung cancer.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – such as processed sauces,crisps, processed meats and many ready meals – have previously been linked to more than 30 harmful effects,including heart disease,type 2 diabetes and shorter life expectancy.

However,a new study carried out by the research journal Thorax has added lung cancer to the list of potential risks associated with the consumption of UPFs.

Lung cancer is one of the most common variants of the disease worldwide,with more than 43,000 diagnoses every year in the UK alone,according to the NHS.

It normally displays no symptoms in its early stages,but the first signs picked up can include breathlessness,coughing up blood and unexplained tiredness.

Another common attribute of UPFs is their relatively low nutritional value,while they typically contain high sugar,salt and saturated fats.

A total of 1,706 lung cancer cases were found,of which the majority (1,473 cases) were of the non-small cell variant,which is typically slow growing,while the rest (233) were of the more aggressive small cell variant.

No firm conclusions could be drawn from the research as it was purely observational and didn’t take into account any other possible contributing factors,such as participants’ smoking habits.

However,researchers said the increased prevalence of UPFs in diets was a possible factor behind the rise of ‘obesity,cardiovascular disease,metabolic disorders,cancer and mortality’.

Nutritionist Rob Hobson said people should aim to make small shifts towards improving their diet rather than ‘pointing the finger’ at certain foods.

But he told The Independent that the study’s findings make the case for looking into the ‘food environment’ in which people are living,where UPFs are typically cheap,readily available and heavily promoted by various channels.