Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Quietly Eroding Fertility, Say Researchers

At a time when infertility is emerging as a growing concern in India, especially in urban areas, new research has highlighted a possible but often overlooked factor: the rising consumption of ultra-processed foods.

As lifestyles change and convenience foods become a regular part of daily diets, their impact on health may extend beyond obesity and lifestyle diseases to something more fundamental—the ability to conceive, said a study by McMaster University. It is published in the journal Nutrition and Health.

The researchers have found that women who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods have significantly lower chances of conception. The findings are based on data from over 2,500 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States. While the study is not India-specific, its implications are highly relevant given the rapid shift in dietary patterns in the country.

The study observed that women who reported infertility—defined as not being able to conceive after one year of trying—consumed more ultra-processed foods, which made up about 31% of their daily diet. In contrast, women who had no fertility issues tended to eat more fresh and minimally processed foods.

Even after accounting for factors such as age, weight, and lifestyle, the results remained significant. In fact, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was linked to nearly 60% lower chances of fertility. This suggests that the issue may not be limited to calories or weight gain, but could involve deeper biological effects.

“Most of what we hear about ultra-processed foods focuses on calories and obesity. But our findings suggest something potentially more complex—there seems to be another mechanism at play which may reflect pathways beyond calories or weight, including chemical exposures that have been hypothesized in prior literature,” explained Anthea Christoforou, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and senior author of the paper.

These foods—such as packaged snacks, instant meals, sugary drinks, and processed meats—often contain additives and may be exposed to chemicals like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and acrylamides during processing and packaging. These substances are known to interfere with hormones, which play a key role in reproductive health. “These compounds can disrupt hormonal balance, which may explain the link we are seeing,” said Angelina Baric, co-author of the study.

In the Indian context, the findings are particularly significant. Over the past decade, there has been a sharp rise in the consumption of processed and packaged foods, especially in cities. Busy lifestyles, changing food habits, and easy availability have made such foods a convenient choice for many households.

At the same time, infertility rates in India are also rising, with studies suggesting that a significant number of couples—particularly in urban areas—face difficulties in conceiving. While factors such as stress, delayed marriages, pollution, and medical conditions are often discussed, diet is rarely given the attention it deserves.

Dr. Arun Gupta, senior pediatrician and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), said, “This study reinforces an important point: that the UPFs—not just the number of calories—matter profoundly for human health. If diets are dominated by UPFs, they are interfering with hormonal systems and fertility; it raises a serious public health concern.”

He further cautioned that the issue warrants policy attention. “Declining reproductive health is a concern in India, too. Governments cannot treat these products as ordinary foods; their broader biological and societal impacts must be examined much more seriously. And this must result in regulations aimed at marketing controls,” he said. Dr. Gupta was not part of the study.

The study authors also found that healthier eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet—which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats—were linked to better fertility outcomes. However, this benefit was closely tied to maintaining a healthy weight and metabolism.

The message, researchers said, is not about completely avoiding such foods, but about making more conscious choices. Including more fresh, home-cooked meals, reducing packaged food intake, and paying attention to how food is prepared can make a meaningful difference.