Most Americans get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods, those super-tasty, energy-dense foods typically full of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, according to a new federal report.
Nutrition research has shown for years that ultra-processed foods make up a big chunk of the U.S. diet, especially for kids and teens.
For the first time, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed those high levels of consumption, using dietary data collected from August 2021 to August 2023.
The report comes amid growing scrutiny of such foods by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who blames them for causing chronic disease.
“We are poisoning ourselves and it's coming principally from these ultra-processed foods,” Kennedy told Fox News earlier this year.
Overall, about 55% of total calories consumed by Americans age 1 and older came from ultra-processed foods during that period, according to the report. For adults, ultra-processed foods made up about 53% of total calories consumed, but for kids through age 18, it was nearly 62%.
The top sources included burgers and sandwiches, sweet baked goods, savory snacks, pizza and sweetened drinks.
Young children consumed fewer calories from ultra-processed foods than older kids, the report found. Adults 60 and older consumed fewer calories from those sources than younger adults. Low-income adults consumed more ultra-processed foods than those with higher incomes.
The results were not surprising, said co-author Anne Williams, a CDC nutrition expert.
What was surprising was that consumption of ultra-processed foods appeared to dip slightly over the past decade. Among adults, total calories from those sources fell from about 56% in 2013-2014 and from nearly 66% for kids in 2017-2018.
Williams said she couldn't speculate about the reason for the decline or whether consumption of less processed foods increased.
But Andrea Deierlein, a nutrition expert at New York University who was not involved in the research, suggested that there may be greater awareness of the potential harms of ultra-processed foods.
“People are trying, at least in some populations, to decrease their intakes of these foods,” she said.
Concern over ultra-processed foods' health effects has been growing for years, but finding solutions has been difficult. Many studies have linked them to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but they haven't been able to prove that the foods directly cause those chronic health problems.
One small but influential study found that even when diets were matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and micronutrients, people consumed more calories and gained more weight when they ate ultra-processed foods than when they ate minimally processed foods.
Research published this week in the journal Nature found that participants in a clinical trial lost twice as much weight when they ate minimally processed foods — such as pasta, chicken, fruits and vegetables — than ultra-processed foods, even those matched for nutrition components and considered healthy, such as ready-to-heat frozen meals, protein bars and shakes.
Part of the problem is simply defining ultra-processed foods.
The new CDC report used the most common definition based on the four-tier Nova system developed by Brazilian researchers that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo. Such foods tend to be “hyperpalatable, energy-dense, low in dietary fiber and contain little or no whole foods, while having high amounts of salt, sweeteners and unhealthy fats,” the CDC report said.
U.S. health officials recently said there are concerns over whether current definitions “accurately capture” the range of foods that may affect health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department recently issued a request for information to develop a new, uniform definition of ultra-processed foods for products in the U.S. food supply.
In the meantime, Americans should try to reduce ultra-processed foods in their daily diets, Deierlein said. For instance, instead of instant oatmeal that may contain added sugar, sodium, artificial colors and preservatives, use plain oats sweetened with honey or maple syrup. Read food packages and nutrition information, she suggested.
“I do think that there are less-processed options available for many foods,” she said.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FILE - Potato chips are displayed at a store in New York, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
The NFL’s final weekend of the regular season features a winner-take-all game between the Ravens-Steelers and a fight for the NFC’s No. 1 seed between the Seahawks-49ers.
There’s also the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup that will decide the NFC South, though it could take 21 hours more to determine the division champion.
Twelve of the 14 playoff spots have been secured and four teams are vying for the final two. Four division champions have been settled and only the Packers have locked up a seed, so they have little to play for in their final game.
Pro Picks breaks down all the games:
Line: Cowboys minus 3 1/2
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys aim to avoid a losing record. Dallas hasn’t has had consecutive losing seasons in 23 years and Prescott has never had a losing season when healthy. The Giants cost themselves the No. 1 pick by beating the Raiders. They can’t afford to drop further in the draft order.
BEST BET: COWBOYS: 30-20
Line: Buccaneers minus 2 1/2
The Panthers secure the division with a win or tie. The Buccaneers need to win and the Falcons have to beat or tie the Saints on Sunday for Tampa to clinch its fifth straight division title. The Bucs have lost four in a row, eight of 10 and are struggling in all phases.
UPSET SPECIAL: PANTHERS: 24-20
Line: Seahawks minus 1 1/2
The winner earns the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The 49ers beat Seattle on the road in Week 1. Sam Darnold was in the same spot last season with the Vikings and struggled mightily in a 31-9 loss. Brock Purdy is 6-0 since returning from a toe injury.
49ERS: 23-22
Line: Falcons minus 3 1/2
Tyler Shough has led the Saints to four straight wins and is 5-3 as a starter. Kirk Cousins, Bijan Robinson and the Falcons are coming off an impressive win over the Rams on Monday night. Atlanta beat New Orleans 24-10 in Week 12.
FALCONS: 24-21
Line: Bengals minus 7 1/2
Myles Garrett stills needs a sack to pass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt for the NFL’s single-season record. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are wrapping up another disappointing season.
BENGALS: 23-17
Line: Vikings minus 7
The Packers are locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed and should rest their starters for the playoffs. The Vikings have won four in a row and are playing for a winning record instead of worrying about draft positioning.
VIKINGS: 24-13
Line: Jaguars minus 12 1/2
Cam Ward has eight touchdowns and only one interception in the past four games, a bright spot in a lost season for Tennessee. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars need a win to secure the AFC South in rookie coach Liam Coen’s first season.
JAGUARS: 27-12
Line: Texans minus 10 1/2
Riley Leonard will start over Philip Rivers, who went 0-3 in his remarkable comeback, and the Colts have gone from 7-1 to out of the playoffs. The Texans need a victory and loss by the Jaguars to lock up their third straight division crown.
TEXANS: 23-14
Line: Bills minus 7
Another disastrous season for the Jets mercifully comes to a close. Josh Allen and the Bills are heading to the playoffs. They’ll be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed and it would make sense for coach Sean McDermott to rest some players.
BILLS: 20-16
Line: Bears minus 3
The Lions have gone from 15-1 to out of the playoffs. It’s a bitter ending for a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. They’re playing for a winning record. Caleb Williams and the NFC North champion Bears are heading to the playoffs. A victory secures the No. 2 seed, which means at least two home playoff games if they beat Green Bay in the first round.
BEARS: 27-23
Line: Broncos minus 12 1/2
Trey Lance will start while Justin Herbert rests as the Chargers prepare for the playoffs. Bo Nix and the Broncos are playing for the No. 1 seed.
BRONCOS: 26-13
Line: Chiefs minus 5 1/2
Chris Oladokun played well in his first career start and the going-nowhere Chiefs gave Denver a tough battle on Christmas. The Raiders are playing for the No. 1 overall pick and know they can’t afford to mess that up.
CHIEFS: 25-12
Line: Rams minus 7 1/2
The Cardinals are heading toward a difficult offseason. The Rams are going to the playoffs but two straight losses took them out of contention for the No. 1 seed and they’ll be either No. 5 or No. 6. If the 49ers beat the Seahawks on Saturday night, the Rams will be locked into the sixth spot and could choose to rest their starters. If the Seahawks win, the Rams would secure the No. 5 seed with a victory.
RAMS: 24-17
Line: Patriots minus 10 1/2
Quinn Ewers played well in his second start to earn his first career win and the Dolphins are 5-2 in the past seven games. Drake Maye and the Patriots have a chance to secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed if they win and the Broncos lose.
PATRIOTS: 31-17
Line: Eagles minus 4
Hard to believe the Commanders and Eagles played in the NFC title game. Washington closes a dismal season. Philadelphia needs a win and loss or tie by the Bears to get the No. 2 seed. The Eagles were the NFC’s No. 2 seed last year when they won the Super Bowl. They’re likely resting their key starters.
EAGLES: 23-16
Line: Ravens minus 3 1/2
Tyler Huntley and Derrick Henry with a crucial assist from the Browns saved Baltimore’s season. Lamar Jackson could be back to for this matchup to determine the AFC North champion. It could be Aaron Rodgers’ last game in the NFL and Mike Tomlin’s last in Pittsburgh.
RAVENS: 24-23
Last week: Straight up: 7-9. Against spread: 7-8-1.
Overall: Straight up: 176-79-1. Against spread: 134-114-8.
Prime time: Straight up: 32-23-1. Against spread: 25-31.
Best Bet: Straight up: 12-5. Against spread: 8-8-1.
Upset Special: Straight up: 13-4. Against spread: 13-4.
Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs toward the end zone to score against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball toward the end zone to score a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
