Del Carmen Fernández-Fígares Jiménez, MarianaLópez-Moreno, Miguel2026-01-272026-01-272025-12Del Carmen Fernández-Fígares Jiménez, M & López-Moreno, M 2025, 'Ultra-processed Plant Foods : Are They Worse than their Unprocessed Animal-Based Counterparts?', Current Nutrition Reports, vol. 14, no. 1, 115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00704-62161-3311PubMedCentral: PMC12549432https://hdl.handle.net/10641/7573Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.Purpose of the Review: This review aims to compare the impact of unprocessed animal foods with ultra-processed plant-based alternatives, particularly plant-based milks, plant-based meat analogs, and margarine, on cardiometabolic risk factors, chronic diseases, and mortality. Recent Findings: The ultra-processed food category is highly heterogeneous, encompassing products with varying ingredients and nutrient profiles. Plant-based milks, plant-based meat analogs, and margarine, typically classified as ultra-processed foods, differ markedly from their unprocessed animal-based counterparts: they do not contain cholesterol or heme iron, have lower concentrations of saturated fat, sulfur, and branched-chain amino acids, and provide dietary fiber, which is absent in animal-based foods. Replacing dairy milk with soymilk have been shown to reduce total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and C-reactive protein (CRP), and is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. Compared to unprocessed animal-based products, plant-based meat analogs are associated with reductions in TC, LDL-C, body weight, plasma ammonia, and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO). Substituting butter with soft margarine reduces TC and LDL-C, and is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Summary: While ultra-processed plant-based foods are less healthy than whole plant foods, they may offer better cardiometabolic outcomes than unprocessed animal-based products. As transitional tools, products such as plant-based milks, meat analogs, and margarine may facilitate dietary shifts. Public health guidance should reflect these nuances to support realistic, health-promoting transitions.1078637enghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Plant-based alternativesPlant-based dietPlant-based meat analogsSustainable dietsUltra-processed foodsVegan dietFood ScienceNutrition and DieteticsSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingJournal ArticleReviewYesyesreview articleopen access10.1007/s13668-025-00704-6https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019530006https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019530006#tab=citedBy