A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that ultra-processed foods make up a significant portion of children's diets in the United States. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, children aged 1 to 18 consumed an average of 61.9% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods between August 2021 and August 2023. This is higher than the 53% consumed by adults during the same period.
Ultra-processed foods are defined as those containing added fats, sugars, and preservatives, making them energy-dense and low in nutritional value. Common examples include sandwiches, sweet bakery products, savory snacks, and sugary beverages. The report highlights that children aged 6 to 11 and 12 to 18 consumed more calories from these foods compared to younger children aged 1 to 5.
Despite a slight decrease in ultra-processed food consumption since 2017-2018, the numbers remain high. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has emphasized the need to reduce the prevalence of these foods in American diets as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
Nutrition experts warn that while the decrease is a positive sign, it is not enough to declare a victory over ultra-processed foods. The report also notes that adults with higher family incomes tend to consume fewer calories from ultra-processed foods compared to those with lower incomes.