IFBA Statement: AJPM

Statement from the International Food & Beverage Alliance on American Journal of Preventive Medicine study

APRIL 28, 2025 (Brussels, Belgium)

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published an observational modeling study titled “Premature Mortality Attributable to Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in 8 Countries”, estimating an association between “ultra-processed food” consumption and premature mortality across eight countries.

The study is based on modeled projections derived from self-reported dietary survey data, rather than direct observation of individual health outcomes. The authors acknowledge several important limitations, including residual confounding, recall bias, and assumptions inherent in the modeling approach. The findings are associational and do not establish causality.

Reacting to the publication, International Food & Beverage Alliance Secretary-General Rocco Renaldi commented:

“It is important to note that this study cannot establish causality, as its findings are based on ecological modeling of survey data and observational methods with several inherent limitations, including potential confounding factors, modeling assumptions, and recall bias.  

Scientific consensus emphasizes that overall dietary patterns, lifestyle behaviors, and socio-economic conditions play a more significant role in health outcomes than food processing. Processing alone is not a reliable indicator of diet quality, and processed foods include diverse products that contribute to safe, affordable, and accessible diets globally. Reflecting this consensus, public health authorities – including the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on
Nutrition and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – have acknowledged that the level of processing is not a reliable basis for guiding consumers toward healthier choices.  

IFBA and its members remain committed to providing an array of safe food choices that help consumers build healthful diets in alignment with evidence-based public health guidelines.”