More than half of the calories consumed by Americans come from ultra-processed foods, according to a new CDC report released on August 7.
Based on dietary data from August 2021 to August 2023, the report confirms that ultra-processed foods—typically high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats—make up about 55% of total calories in the American diet. Among children and teens, that number climbs to nearly 62%.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pointed to ultra-processed foods as a major driver of chronic disease, warning, “We are poisoning ourselves.” The most common sources include burgers, sweet baked goods, pizza, savory snacks, and sugary drinks.
Ultra-processed foods can combine sugar, salt, and fat in a way that makes them so hard to put down, but are there other factors at play? And is the food industry using body and brain hacks to trick us into consuming more and more of these unhealthy foods in excess?
Read through this gallery to find out more.