Two 2025 studies found that the majority of calories consumed by U.S. residents comes from ultraprocessed foods. From August 2021 to August 2023, the mean percentage of total calories consumed from ultraprocessed foods among people age 1 and older was 55%, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
Top sources included sandwiches, sweet bakery products, savory snacks, and sweetened beverages. Ultraprocessed foods typically are low in dietary fiber, contain little or no whole foods, and have high amounts of additives like salt, sweeteners, and unhealthy fats, the CDC said.
Nutritional Impact
A University of Wisconsin-Madison nutritional sciences professor recommends choosing instead foods lower in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, and higher in dietary fiber and whole food ingredients.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
