Majority of Americans Get More Than Half of Their Calories from Ultra-Processed Foods

This new report estimates that between 2021 and 2023, American adults got 53 percent of their calories from ultra-processed foods. Children and teens averaged 62 percent, with the highest rates among 6 to 11-year-olds. Ultra-processed foods such as sandwiches, baked sweets, chips, pizza, and sweetened drinks are laden with additives, preservatives, and emulsifiers, which have been linked to inflammation, DNA damage, and increased cancer risk. Studies increasingly connect a high intake of these foods to colon, breast, and pancreatic cancers, alongside obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Consumption patterns varied by age and income. Younger Americans relied more on these foods, with school meals – around 70 percent ultra-processed – likely contributing. Lower-income adults consumed more ultra-processed foods than wealthier people, largely due to their cheaper cost compared to fresh produce. Sandwiches were the single largest source for both children and adults, followed closely by sweet bakery products.

The findings underscore concerns that ultra-processed foods may contribute to more than 120,000 premature deaths annually in the United States, prompting growing calls for policy changes to remove harmful ingredients from the country’s food supply.

To learn more about the dangers of ultra-processed foods, see this article on our website.