A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday revealed that over half of the total calorie intake in the United States comes from ultra-processed foods.
According to the “National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey” conducted by the CDC from August 2021 to August 2023, researchers found that despite some improvements in recent years, the calories consumed through ultra-processed foods still constitute over 50% of the total calorie intake for Americans, averaging at 55%. Among adults, approximately 53% of calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods, while the situation is even more severe for children aged 1-18, with about 62% of their calories coming from ultra-processed foods.
Anne Williams, a researcher at the National Center for Health Statistics, a CDC-affiliated institution and the main author of the report, stated that both children and adults primarily consume ultra-processed foods such as sandwiches like hamburgers, hot dogs, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Following that are baked goods, savory snacks, and sugary beverages.
The report highlighted that these foods are typically highly palatable, energy-dense, and contain significant amounts of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
Furthermore, the report found that higher-income adults tend to consume fewer ultra-processed foods.
As this report was released, the Department of Health and Human Services in the United States, under the direction of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is conducting increasing scrutiny on such foods as Kennedy believes they can lead to chronic illnesses.
Over the years, there has been growing concern about the impact of ultra-processed foods on health, yet finding solutions has remained challenging. Many studies have linked ultra-processed foods to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, but there is still no conclusive evidence that these foods directly cause these chronic diseases.
However, the report released by the CDC on Thursday indicated that studies suggest a correlation between consuming ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and elevated all-cause mortality.
Nevertheless, the report also presented a positive aspect. Data showed that compared to the survey data from 2013-2014, the average proportion of calories consumed from ultra-processed foods in the total intake decreased among both American adults and children from August 2021 to August 2023. The proportion decreased from 55.8% to 53% for adults and from 63.8% to 61.9% for children.
Experts point out that people’s dietary choices also depend on the food accessibility. In the United States, around 70% of the food supply consists of ultra-processed foods, and consuming these foods is often cheaper than cooking at home.