Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found that over half of calories consumed at home by adults in the US come from ultraprocessed foods. These foods, which contain little or no nutritional value, are high in substances like colorings, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors.
The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that between 2003 and 2018, ultraprocessed food intake at home increased, rising from 51% to 54%. The researchers also discovered that only minor differences existed in trends among sex, age, race, income, and education.
However, they noted that away-from-home consumption of ultraprocessed foods rose significantly for those with less than a high school degree. On the other hand, higher-income households saw their proportion of at-home calories from ultraprocessed foods remain steady above 50%.
The study highlights the need for strategies to promote healthier alternatives and warn consumers about unhealthy food content. Strong nutrition labels may be necessary to encourage individuals to choose less processed foods.
This research underscores the importance of addressing the proliferation of ultraprocessed foods in US diets, particularly at home. The findings have significant implications for public health and nutrition policies.
Source: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/ultraprocessed-foods-account-for-more-than-half-of-calories-consumed-at-home