Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Youth and Adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023

This report presents estimates about ultra-processed foods during August 2021-August 2023 by top caloric contributors and mean percentage of total calories from ultra-processed foods by sex, age, family income, and 10-year trends.

Data from the National Cancer Institute that categorizes foods as ultra-processed were linked with NHANES August 2021-August 2023 data to estimate the mean percent of calories from ultra-processed foods using the day 1 dietary recall interview. Differences between estimates overall, among subgroups, and compared to 2017-2018 were evaluated using t tests at the 0.05 level, and polynomial regression was used to test for linear and nonlinear trends, accounting for the unequal spacing of survey cycles. All analyses accounted for the complex, multistage probability design including the use of Day 1 dietary sample weights.

Youth ages 1-18 years consumed a higher percent of calories from ultra-processed foods (61.9%) than adults age 19 and older (53.0%) during August 2021-August 2023. Sandwiches (including burgers), sweet bakery products, savory snacks, and sweetened beverages represented four of the top five sources of calories from ultra-processed foods among youth and adults. Between 2013-2014 and August 2021-August 2023, a decrease occurred in the consumption of mean calories from ultra-processed foods among adults. Keywords: Nova, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), caloric intake.