It seems comfort food is well and truly on the out after a recent study revealed that those who eat fried potatoes two or more times each week double their chance of dying, compared to those who abstain from the crispy treat. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked more than 4440 people aged between 45 to 79 during an eight-year period, revealing more than 236 deaths that have been attributed to potatoes fried in oil.

Fries alone though weren’t the only ones singled out, it seems both hash browns and potato gems are just as likely to increase your chance of death. Researchers from the study are also quick to point out that while the numbers don’t lie, there are other factors, like lifestyle choices, which help link an early death than just consuming fries alone.

Staggeringly we consume more than 14kg of hot potatoes every year, and there’s no signs of that number slowing down. For fries addicts though, it’s not all bad news. The study did reveal that those who indulged just once or twice a month weren’t subject to the increased risk of death.

The study follows a number of recent health reports that have linked diet soft drinks to increased risk of strokes and Alzheimer’s disease. Eating your greens, it seems, just got a whole lot more enticing.