Overview

• A study published in PLOS Medicine identifies 28 blood and 33 urine metabolites that reliably indicate ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption.
• Validated poly-metabolite scores can distinguish diets with 80% UPF from those with no UPF, achieving moderate accuracy (AUC 0.66–0.78).
• Higher UPF intake correlates with lower levels of beneficial nutrients and increased exposure to potentially harmful compounds from food additives and packaging.
• The study highlights limitations, including the need for larger, more diverse cohorts to confirm findings and refine the metabolomic approach.
• Ultra-processed foods now account for over 50% of daily caloric intake in the U.S., raising concerns about their role in chronic diseases and mortality.