Ultra-processed foods in the US: A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that more than half of all calories consumed by Americans come from ultra-processed foods, marking the first time federal data has officially quantified the nation’s heavy reliance on such foods.
The findings, based on dietary data collected between August 2021 and August 2023, show that ultra-processed foods account for 55% of total calorie intake among people aged one and older. The proportion is even higher among children and teens, who receive nearly 62% of their calories from highly processed food products. Among adults, the figure stands at approximately 53%.
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Ultra-processed foods are defined as products that undergo multiple stages of industrial processing and typically contain high levels of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, additives, and minimal whole-food ingredients. Common examples include sweetened beverages, fast food, packaged snacks, baked goods, and frozen meals.
The report arrives amid growing scrutiny of food quality in the US, particularly from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly linked ultra-processed foods to rising rates of chronic disease. “We are poisoning ourselves, and it’s coming principally from these ultra-processed foods,” Kennedy said in a statement earlier this year.
Nutrition experts have long warned of the health consequences associated with heavy consumption of processed foods. Studies have linked such diets to increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
The CDC report used the Nova classification system, a widely adopted four-tier model developed by Brazilian researchers, to define ultra-processed foods. According to the report, these foods are often energy-dense, low in fibre, highly palatable, and typically contain few or no whole ingredients.
The report noted that low-income adults consume more ultra-processed foods than those in higher income groups, and younger age groups tend to consume more than older adults.
While the results highlight a continuing trend in American diets, they also show a slight decline in consumption over the past decade. Among adults, ultra-processed foods made up 56% of calories in 2013–2014. For children, the figure was nearly 66% in 2017–2018. CDC nutrition expert and report co-author Anne Williams said the downward shift was unexpected but welcomed.
