How Much Ultra-Processed Food Are People Eating in the United States?

A new NCHS report shows how much ultra-processed food people in the United States have been eating. Ultra-processed foods can be very tasty and convenient, but high in calories and often lack important nutrients and fiber. They often contain little to no whole foods and are characterized using ingredients typically not found in home kitchens.  These ingredients are based on forms of fats, sugar, salt, and other food components that prolong shelf-life and increase palatability and convenience.  Eating a lot of these foods has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and other serious health problems.

The information in the report comes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was conducted from August 2021 to August 2023.

Key Findings

During this time, people ages 1 year and older got about 55% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods. This means that more than half of their calories came from foods and beverages that are often high in sodium, high-fructose corn syrup or unhealthy fats.

Young people ages 1 to 18 ate and drank even more ultra-processed foods, with 61.9% of their calories from these types of foods. In comparison, adults aged 19 and older got 53% of their calories from ultra-processed foods.

The most common ultra-processed foods consumed by children and adults included sandwiches (including burgers), sweet baked goods (such as cookies and cakes), salty snacks (such as chips), and sugary drinks (such as soda).

There was a decrease in calories from ultra-processed foods and beverages between 2017-2018 and August 2021-August 2023. For youth, the percentage dropped from 65.6% to 61.9%. For adults, it fell from 55.8% to 53%.

Recommendations

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020-2025 recommend that people eat a variety of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They also recommend cutting back on foods that have added sugars.