Large evidence syntheses keep finding associations between higher UPF intake and multiple adverse outcomes. In Feb 2026, a Milbank Quarterly analysis argued UPFs resemble tobacco in engineering/marketing designed to drive overconsumption—fueling calls for “tobacco‑style” policy approaches.
Performance translation: you don’t need purity; you need defaults.
Try this: aim for “80% real food calories.” Keep UPFs as convenience tools around travel, long events, or tight schedules.