Despite growing concerns regarding their health impacts, ultra-processed foods are accounting for a larger share of Americans’ diets.
Johns Hopkins researchers revealed in a study last month that ultra-processed foods account for more than half of the calories Americans consume at home.
The proportion of calories that comes from minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, has also dropped significantly over the 15-year period that the study evaluated.
“Overall, at home and away from home, [ultra-processed foods] comprise the majority (and climbing) share of energy intake,” the study stated.
Ultra-processed foods, which generally incorporate additives like salt, fat and sugar, include everything from fast food and soda to cereal and processed meat.
According to the Associated Press, about two thirds of the diets of kids and teens are made up of ultra-processed foods.
As the consumption of these types of heavily processed foods has risen, evidence suggesting they are linked to numerous adverse health issues has also grown.
Ultra-Processed Foods Tied to Dozens of Health Conditions
According to Harvard Medical School, ultra-processed foods mostly comprise certain extracted substances, such as starches, hydrogenated fats and artificial additives.
Research suggests that these added ingredients may help set the stage for a number of adverse health effects to develop.
In 2024, a study published in The BMJ determined that ultra-processed foods are tied to more than 30 different serious health conditions. These included cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and mental disorders.
The study pointed to several different reasons that ultra-processed foods may be having these impacts. One simple explanation is that the ingredients that are added to heavily processed food could be directly responsible for the health concerns.
“Emerging evidence in humans shows links between exposure to additives, including non-sugar sweeteners, emulsifiers, colorants, and nitrates/nitrites, and detrimental health outcomes,” the study stated.
But the marginalization of healthy, minimally processed foods may also play a role. As ultra-processed foods become a larger part of people’s diets, they end up eating less natural foods like fruits and vegetables that provide their own health benefits.
This problem may also be exacerbated by the marketing strategies of companies that sell highly processed food items.
“The extensive marketing strategies used by ultra-processed food manufacturers, which involve visually captivating packaging with eye catching designs and health related assertions, have also been suggested as a potential contributing factor to excessive consumption,” the study stated.
Many Popular Food Items Are Ultra-Processed
Ultra-processed foods, which are sometimes called UPFs, are wide-ranging and not always easy to avoid. A 2023 study determined that over 73% of the entire U.S. food supply is ultra-processed.
According to the American Medical Association, common examples include packaged snacks, canned soups, cereal bars and packaged meat.
The Harvard Medical School says that processed meats are some of the least healthy foods available. Hot dogs, bacon and deli meat fall into this category.
Not all processed foods are devoid of nutritional value, and some can be part of a healthy diet. According to AARP, foods like Greek yogurt and packaged salads may be processed to some degree but still provide health benefits.