Ultra-processed food linked to early death

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48446924

Ultra-processed food linked to early death

By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

30 May 2019

Ultra-processed foods - such as chicken nuggets, ice cream and breakfast cereals - have been linked to early death and poor health, scientists say. Researchers in France and Spain say the amount of such food being eaten has soared.

Their studies are not definite proof of harm but do come hot on the heels of trials suggesting ultra-processed foods lead to overeating. Experts expressed caution but called for further investigation.
(snip)


The first study, by the University of Navarra, in Spain, followed 19,899 people for a decade and assessed their diet every other year. There were 335 deaths during the study.

But for every 10 deaths among those eating the least ultra-processed food, there were 16 deaths among those eating the most (more than four portions a day).

The second study, by the University of Paris, followed 105,159 people for five years and assessed their diet twice a year.

It showed those eating more ultra-processed food had worse heart health. Rates of cardiovascular disease were 277 per 100,000 people per year among those eating the most ultra-processed food, compared with 242 per 100,000 among those eating the least.
(snip)

[3Hotdogs]

1. What is an ultra processed food?

These are defined in the link.

[Silent3]

2. What is the supposed scientific (not rule-of-thumb) definition of "ultra-processed"?

After all, grilling is a process, baking is a process, even chopping are stirring are processes.

I realize that when people say "processed foods" they're usually talking about things like Twinkies and cheese whiz and hot dogs, but shouldn't scientific studies be more specific?

Isn't it the particular "processes" that matter, and shouldn't different processes be studied independently? And what about choice of ingredients, regardless of how they are processed? There are probably many processes and ingredients that aren't harmful at all, but without clarification a lot of important understanding of what's going on with our food will be missed.