Mapping the scientific landscape of ultraprocessed foods and cancer: A bibliometric analysis

Rising consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) is characterized by refined ingredients, additives, and minimal whole-food content has been linked to chronic diseases, including cancer. Although research in this domain has expanded rapidly, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of global scientific output remains limited. To map and analyze global research trends on UPFs and cancer from 1994 to 2024 using bibliometric and visualization approaches, a retrospective bibliometric study was conducted using the Scopus database for its multidisciplinary coverage and advanced search features. Literature was retrieved on 15 January 2025, covering publications from 1994 to 2024. A title-based search combined UPF-related terms (e.g., UPF, fast food, packaged food) from literature and MeSH with cancer-related terms (e.g., cancer, tumor, neoplasms, malignancy). Only peer-reviewed journal articles were included, excluding books, chapters, errata, and retracted documents. The strategy was validated by two experts through random screening and comparison of top authors’ outputs with Scopus profiles, showing high agreement ( r = 0.986, P < 0.001). Indicators included annual publications, subject areas, authors, institutions, countries, journals, funding agencies, and highly cited articles. Science mapping included coauthorship, cocitation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Visualization was performed using VOSviewer (v1.6.20) and Bibliometrix (R), with total link strength, clustering, and average publication year used to assess collaboration, intellectual structure, and emerging trends. A total of 2458 publications were identified, with marked growth after 2010 ( R ² = 0.9025, P < 0.001). The United States led productivity, followed by the United Kingdom and Italy. Nutrients was the most prolific journal, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health was the leading institution. Five thematic clusters emerged, encompassing chronic disease mechanisms, site-specific cancers, dietary risk factors, processed meat carcinogenesis, and nitrate-related pathways. Recent research increasingly emphasizes inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.