What we consume could be linked to the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.—and some of the identified food items might be unexpected.
Ultra-processed foods—those that have been manufactured with added ingredients or preservatives—have been linked to health concerns such as heart disease, cognitive decline, diabetes, and mental health disorders. And, in part because these foods can fuel obesity and inflammation, they’ve also long been connected to higher rates of certain cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal, and breast cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research—and recent research indicates the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. may be part of this group, too.
A group of oncology researchers in China found that eating a larger amount of processed foods could increase your chances of developing lung cancer by as much as 41%. Their study, published in July 2025 in the peer-reviewed BMJ Thorax journal, used data from over 100,000 participants of the U.S. Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trials, which tracked cancer diagnoses and deaths between 1993 and 2018. According to the National Cancer Institute, more Americans die from lung and bronchus cancer than any other type of cancer—with an estimated 124,730 deaths predicted in 2025 alone.
The research team divided participants into four groups of diet quality—each associated with a dietary category:
- Unprocessed or minimally processed
- Containing processed culinary ingredients
- Processed
- Ultra-processed
After controlling for well-known lung cancer risk factors like smoking, the team concluded that the top 25% of people who ate the greatest amount of ultra-processed foods were 37% more likely to develop non-small cell lung cancer, and 44% more likely to be develop small cell lung cancer. The study theorizes that, in addition to the directly unhealthful impact of foods high in fat, salt, sugar, and additives, people in this group were also less likely to eat healthy, cancer-fighting nutrients such as fiber and antioxidants. Says the study’s text: “Low consumption of minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains was linked to increased lung cancer risk.”
Some consumers might be surprised to hear which of their favorite foods were categorized in the study as “ultra-processed.” While some on the list were likely more obvious—for instance, hot dogs, pizza, soda and sweetened beverages, baked goods, instant noodles, and fried foods—other offenders were identified as cream cheese, frozen yogurt, bread, cereal, soups, and sauces. As a rule of thumb, Harvard Health categorizes ultra-processed foods has being “made mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats,” as well as possible additives like artificial coloring.
The study authors note that the average participant consumed three daily servings of ultra-processed food. Half a serving was considered low, while six servings was considered high. One in 10 subjects reported eating lunch meat, making it the most commonly consumed ultra-processed food.
Now, the team is calling for more research to determine whether processed foods cause lung cancer, or simply correlate to that outcome: “These findings need to be confirmed by other large-scale longitudinal studies in different populations and settings,” says the study. “If causality is established, limiting trends of [ultra-processed foods] intake globally could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer.”
Of course, considering the well-established links between processed food and so many chronic conditions, you don’t need to wait for more research to improve your health today. If you want to follow the American Institute for Cancer Research’s recommendations, try adding more vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains into your daily diet.
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