4 in 10 Heart and Stroke Deaths in Canada Linked to Ultra-Processed Foods: Study

Highly processed foods now make up 43 percent of the average Canadian diet, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Photo by beats1 via Shutterstock

Nearly 40 percent of heart disease and stroke incidents in Canada can be linked to the excessive intake of ultra-processed foods like chips, frozen pizza, and soft drinks, a new study suggests.

Ultra-processed food products (UPF) now represent nearly half (43.4 percent) of the total daily energy intake of Canadians adults on average, according to the report commissioned by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.