Is our food culture failing us?
More Than Half of Americans’ Calories Come From Ultra-Processed Foods
Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than half of the daily calories in American diets come from ultra-processed foods.
The latest data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed that the numbers are three percent lower, but still higher than they should be.
On average, 53 percent of adult daily calories were from ultraprocessed foods, down from 56 percent.
Ultraprocessed foods have been linked to health conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, prompting concerns about their consumption.
The slight decline in ultraprocessed food consumption may indicate increased awareness of their harmful effects, but experts caution against declaring victory over these foods.
Despite the decline, experts emphasize that Americans are still consuming too many ultraprocessed foods, with sandwiches, sweet bakery products, and sugar-sweetened beverages being major contributors to daily calorie intake.