Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. But we aren’t supposed to eat them.

At least, that’s the current discourse around these foods, which can include soda, instant oatmeal and sliced bread. 

Research has found that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many cancers. 

That's a hard pill to swallow, considering that roughly 70% of our grocery store products are ultra-processed, according to the Yale School of Public Health.

So we want a little more clarity on what these foods are, how they could impact us and if it’s really so bad to snack on a granola bar (or order the occasional hot dog at a baseball game). 

Guest: Dr. Neelendu Dey, a gastroenterologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Related links: 
Ultra-Processed Foods Information Sheet | Yale School of Public Health
Ultra-processed food: Five things to know | Stanford Medicine News Center
 What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. But we aren&rsquo;t supposed to eat them.
At least, that&rsquo;s the current discourse around these foods, which can include soda,&nbsp;instant oatmeal and sliced bread.&nbsp;
Research has found that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many cancers.&nbsp;
That's a hard pill to swallow, considering that roughly <a href="https://ysph.yale.edu/research/information-sheets/ultra-processed-foods/">70% of our grocery store products</a> are ultra-processed, according to the Yale School of Public Health.
So we want a little more clarity on what these foods are, how they could impact us and if it&rsquo;s really so bad to snack on a granola bar (or order the occasional hot dog at a baseball game).&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Dr. Neelendu Dey, a gastroenterologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ysph.yale.edu/research/information-sheets/ultra-processed-foods/">Ultra-Processed Foods Information Sheet | Yale School of Public Health</a></li>
<li><a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/07/ultra-processed-food--five-things-to-know.html">Ultra-processed food: Five things to know | Stanford Medicine News Center</a></li>
<li>&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-are-ultra-processed-foods">What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere.... but what exactly are they? A gastroenterologist breaks down what we know about these foods lining our grocery store shelves.