Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Higher Asthma Risk in Children: Study

A study published in the journal of Allergy⁠ found that children who obtained 30% or more of their daily energy intake from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) had nearly a 4-fold higher risk of developing asthma when compared to those consuming less. However, researchers did not observe a significant link between ultra-processed food intake and other allergic diseases.

Ultra-processed foods typically include packaged snacks, sugary cereals, soft drinks, processed meats, fast foods, and industrially manufactured products which contains additives, preservatives, flavor enhancers, and refined ingredients. These foods have increasingly been linked to obesity, metabolic disease, and chronic inflammation. Childhood asthma remains one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, affecting quality of life, school attendance, and healthcare utilization. Thereby, identifying modifiable environmental and dietary risk factors could play a critical role in prevention strategies.

This research analyzed data from the SENDO cohort which was conducted between 2015 and 2024, to investigate whether dietary patterns influence the development of asthma and allergic diseases in children. While previous cross-sectional studies have hinted at a connection between processed food consumption and allergic conditions, and prospective evidence following children over time has been limited.

The study initially enrolled 1,546 children aged 4 to 5 years. After excluding participants who already had asthma or allergic diseases at baseline, this study analyzed a final sample of 691 children. Dietary intake was assessed using repeated nutritional questionnaires, with children categorized into three groups based on their level of ultra-processed food consumption.

Over an average follow-up period of 3.4 years, this study tracked new diagnoses of asthma and other allergic conditions through annual health updates. The children in the lowest consumption group had an asthma incidence of just 2.6%, while rates increased to 9.9% and 7.6% in the middle and highest consumption groups, respectively.

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, including demographic and lifestyle variables, children with greater ultra-processed food intake had nearly 4-times the risk of developing asthma when compared to those consuming the lowest amounts.

No statistically significant associations between UPF intake and allergic rhinitis or other allergic conditions in this analysis was observed. However, the asthma findings remained robust in the fully adjusted survival models.

Overall, the findings suggest that reducing ultra-processed food consumption and promoting healthier dietary habits during early childhood may help support respiratory health and reduce long-term disease risk. Further large-scale studies and clinical investigations will be imperative to confirm these findings.

Source:

Galindo, O., Goikoetxea, M. J., Moreno-Galarraga, L., Argiz, L., Moreno-Villares, J. M., de la O, V., & Martín-Calvo, N. (2026). Ultra-processed food consumption and childhood allergic diseases: Increased risk of asthma onset in the SENDO project. Allergy, all.70378. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70378