Majority of Americans’ Diets Comprise Ultra-Processed Foods
A recent federal report reveals something surprising yet not entirely shocking: many Americans are getting more than half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods. These foods include popular items like burgers, sandwiches, sweet baked goods, various snacks, pizza, and sugary beverages.
Between August 2021 and August 2023, data showed that American youths, on average, consumed about 61.9% of their daily calories from these heavily processed foods. In contrast, adults took in around 53.0% from similar sources. The CDC has pointed out that these ultra-processed foods often contain high levels of salt, sugars, and unhealthy fats. It’s quite alarming, really, considering that frequent consumption of such items heightens the risk of cardiovascular diseases and may contribute to overall mortality.
To put it plainly, it seems we’re not making the healthiest choices. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed this issue earlier this year, expressing concerns about long-term health impacts linked to these dietary habits.
The report also indicated that, from 2021 to 2023, the average calorie intake from ultra-processed foods for individuals aged one and older was 55.0%. Interestingly, young children appeared to consume more calories from these kinds of foods compared to older kids. Adults over 60 also tended to have higher intakes from ultra-processed sources compared to younger adults. Plus, it was noted that low-income adults consumed these foods more than those with higher incomes.
It seems the consumption of ultra-processed foods has, well, gradually increased over the last decade. For context, the percentage of total calorie intake from these foods fell from about 56% in 2013-2014 to around 66% in 2017-2018 for children.
The report identified the top calorie contributors among ultra-processed foods for young people. Sandwiches, including burgers, accounted for 7.6% of total caloric intake, followed by sweet baked goods at 6.3%, snacks at 4.9%, pizza at 4.7%, and sweet drinks at 3.9%. For adults, the numbers were slightly different: sandwiches contributed 8.6%, sweet baked items at 4.4%, sweet drinks also at 4.4%, tasty snacks at 3.4%, and other bread-related items at 3.1%.
Concerns have been raised by U.S. health officials regarding whether the current definitions of ultra-processed foods accurately capture what affects health. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department are seeking information to help develop a new, consistent definition of ultra-processed food within the U.S. food supply.
