A recent federal report revealed that a majority of Americans are obtaining over half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, with items like burgers, sandwiches, sweet bakery products, savory snacks, pizza, and sweetened beverages being among the main sources.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that from August 2021 to August 2023, American youth consumed an average of 61.9% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, while adults consumed 53.0%.
The CDC explained that ultra-processed foods are typically high in salt, sweeteners, and unhealthy fats, while being low in dietary fiber and lacking whole foods. Consumption of these foods has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed concerns about the impact of ultra-processed foods on health, stating that “We are poisoning ourselves and it’s coming principally from these ultra-processed foods.”
The report highlighted that during the period of August 2021 to August 2023, individuals aged 1 year and older consumed 55.0% of their total calories from ultra-processed foods.
It was found that younger children consumed fewer calories from ultra-processed foods compared to older kids, while adults aged 60 and older consumed less from these sources than younger adults. Additionally, low-income adults consumed more ultra-processed foods than those with higher incomes.
Although there was a slight decrease in the consumption of ultra-processed foods over the past decade, it remains a significant part of the American diet. Adults saw a decrease from about 56% in 2013-2014, while kids saw a decrease from nearly 66% in 2017-2018.
The top five sources of calories from ultra-processed foods among youth were sandwiches (including burgers), sweet bakery products, savory snacks, pizza, and sweetened beverages. Among adults, the top sources were sandwiches, sweet bakery products, sweetened beverages, savory snacks, and breads, rolls, and tortillas.
U.S. health officials have raised concerns about the current definitions of ultra-processed foods and are working to develop a new, uniform definition to accurately capture the range of foods that may impact health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department have issued a request for information to establish this new definition.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
