More Than Half of Calories Consumed in the U.S. Come from Ultra-Processed Foods

Recent data reveals that a significant portion of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods, with an average of 55% of daily calories coming from these heavily processed products. According to a data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics, the analysis covered August 2021 to August 2023 and utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The study found that individuals aged 1 year and older derived over half of their daily caloric intake from ultra-processed foods. Notably, children and teenagers consumed even higher proportions, with youth aged 1 to 18 years obtaining about 61.9% of their calories from such foods, compared to 53% among adults.

Interestingly, the intake of ultra-processed foods was lowest in the highest income families among adults, suggesting socioeconomic factors influence dietary patterns. The top sources of calories from ultra-processed foods included sandwiches, sweet bakery items, savory snacks, and sweetened beverages.

Despite some declines in consumption over recent years—particularly from 2013-2014 to 2021-2023—the overall reliance on ultra-processed foods remains substantial. Researchers note that these foods, characterized by various additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients, continue to dominate the American diet.

The findings underscore ongoing concerns about dietary quality and the pervasive presence of processed foods in the U.S. diet. Public health efforts may need to focus on promoting whole, minimally processed foods to improve nutrition and health outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-calories-ultraprocessed-foods-states.html