"Food additives and industrial contaminants present in these foods might cause oxidative stress and inflammation, further aggravating the risks," she said, adding "Those shifting towards plant-based foods should also think about the degree of processing involved before making their choices." Co-author Eszter Vamos said that UPFs have deceptive marketing to portray their plant-based products as healthy. "While ultra-processed foods are often marketed as healthy foods, this large study suggests that plant-based ultra-processed foods do not seem to have protective health effects and are linked to poor health outcomes," she said.