CDC Data: Americans Get 55-60% of Calories from Ultra-Processed Food
National surveillance data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reveals that ultra-processed foods dominate the American diet. These figures, drawn from NHANES dietary recalls, are among the most frequently cited statistics in the ultra-processed food debate.
Information current as of February 2026
This page reflects data from NCHS Data Brief No. 536 and related NHANES analyses. Check the CDC/NCHS website for the latest survey releases.
NCHS Data Brief No. 536: Key Findings
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published Data Brief No. 536 analyzing the contribution of ultra-processed foods to caloric intake in the United States. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the report provides the most authoritative snapshot of how much of the American diet consists of ultra-processed products.
The researchers classified all foods and beverages reported by NHANES participants using the NOVA food classification system, which categorizes items into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods. The data brief focused specifically on the percentage of total daily energy (calories) coming from the ultra-processed category.
The findings confirmed what nutrition researchers had long suspected: ultra-processed foods constitute the majority of caloric intake for most Americans. The data also revealed significant variation across age groups, with children and adolescents consuming an even higher proportion of ultra-processed calories than adults.
~57%
of adult calories come from ultra-processed foods (ages 20+)
~67%
of children's calories come from ultra-processed foods (ages 2-19)
+3-4%
increase in UPF calorie share since the early 2000s
Ultra-Processed Food Consumption by Age Group
The NHANES data reveals a clear pattern: younger Americans consume a substantially higher share of their calories from ultra-processed sources. The following table summarizes the key findings by age group, based on analysis of dietary recall data.
| Age Group | % Calories from UPF | Trend (2000s to Present) | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children (2-5) | ~61-63% | Slight increase | Driven by sweetened snacks, flavored drinks, and packaged meals |
| Children (6-11) | ~65-67% | Increasing | Highest consumption group; school-age convenience foods |
| Adolescents (12-19) | ~63-67% | Increasing | Sugar-sweetened beverages a major contributor |
| Young Adults (20-39) | ~57-59% | Stable to slight increase | Convenience-driven; high reliance on ready meals |
| Middle-Aged Adults (40-59) | ~55-57% | Stable | Slightly lower than younger cohorts |
| Older Adults (60+) | ~53-55% | Stable | Lowest adult group; more home-prepared meals |
Key Pattern
Ultra-processed food consumption decreases with age. Children aged 6-11 consume the highest proportion of UPF calories, while adults over 60 consume the lowest. This gradient reflects both generational dietary habits and the role that school environments, marketing exposure, and food independence play in shaping children's diets. See our guide on ultra-processed food and children for more context.
Consumption Patterns Across Demographics
NHANES data shows that ultra-processed food consumption varies across income levels, race and ethnicity, and education. These patterns reflect structural factors in the food environment, including access to grocery stores, food pricing, marketing exposure, and cultural food traditions -- not individual choices in isolation.
By Income Level
Contrary to some assumptions, ultra-processed food consumption is relatively high across all income levels. Lower-income households show modestly higher UPF intake, but the difference is smaller than many expect. Higher-income households consume substantial amounts of ultra-processed food as well, often in the form of premium packaged products, restaurant meals, and convenience items. The data suggests that the ubiquity of ultra-processed food in the U.S. food supply affects all economic groups.
By Race and Ethnicity
NHANES data shows variation across racial and ethnic groups, but the differences are more modest than often assumed. All groups derive a majority of their calories from ultra-processed sources. Non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Black adults show similar UPF consumption rates, while Hispanic and Mexican-American adults tend to have somewhat lower rates, which researchers attribute in part to stronger home-cooking traditions and cultural food practices. These patterns highlight structural food environment factors rather than individual dietary preferences.
By Education Level
Adults with higher educational attainment tend to consume a slightly lower percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods, though the difference is modest. College graduates derive approximately 53-55% of calories from UPF sources compared to approximately 58-60% for those without a college degree. Education may correlate with greater nutritional awareness, but even the most educated demographic groups still get a majority of their calories from ultra-processed products.
Structural Factors
Researchers emphasize that demographic differences in UPF consumption are shaped primarily by the food environment: proximity to full-service grocery stores, relative pricing of whole versus packaged foods, food marketing targeting, and time constraints that make convenience foods attractive. These are systemic factors, not reflections of individual knowledge or willpower.
Top Ultra-Processed Food Categories by Calorie Contribution
Not all ultra-processed foods contribute equally to the calorie share. NHANES analyses have identified the food categories that contribute the most ultra-processed calories to the American diet. Understanding which product types dominate helps target practical reduction strategies.
1. Packaged Breads and Baked Goods
Largest ContributorIndustrial breads, rolls, buns, and sweet baked goods represent the single largest category of ultra-processed calories. Commercial bread often contains dough conditioners, emulsifiers, preservatives, and high-fructose corn syrup. These products are consumed daily by most American households, making them the largest cumulative source of UPF energy even though individual servings may seem modest.
2. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks are among the top contributors, especially for children and adolescents. These products are nearly 100% ultra-processed by definition and provide calories with virtually no nutritional benefit. Beverage consumption patterns have changed over the past two decades, with soda declining somewhat but energy drinks and sweetened coffees rising.
3. Reconstituted Meat Products
Hot dogs, sausages, deli meats, chicken nuggets, and other reconstituted meat products are major contributors. These products typically contain sodium nitrite, phosphates, flavorings, and binding agents. Processed meat specifically has been classified by the WHO as a Group 1 carcinogen, adding a layer of concern beyond the general health effects of ultra-processing.
4. Sweet Snacks and Confectionery
Cookies, candy, ice cream, chocolate bars, and other sweet snacks contribute a substantial share, particularly among younger age groups. These products are often marketed heavily to children and are characterized by high sugar content, artificial flavors, and multiple industrial additives.
5. Ready Meals and Frozen Entrees
Frozen pizzas, microwavable dinners, instant noodles, and other ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat meals round out the top contributors. These products have grown substantially in market share over the past two decades as time-pressed consumers seek convenient meal solutions. They frequently contain emulsifiers, flavor enhancers, colorings, and preservatives.
How the U.S. Compares Globally
The United States is among the countries with the highest ultra-processed food consumption in the world. While direct comparisons are complicated by differences in survey methodology and NOVA classification practices, the overall pattern is clear: the U.S. food supply is among the most industrially processed globally.
| Country | % Calories from UPF | Context |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 55-60% | Among the highest globally; trend increasing |
| United Kingdom | 50-57% | Similar food industry structure to U.S. |
| Canada | 48-55% | Comparable food supply to U.S. and U.K. |
| Australia | ~42% | High but below U.S. and U.K. levels |
| France | ~36% | Strong culinary traditions; more home cooking |
| Brazil | 20-30% | Where NOVA was developed; UPF increasing rapidly |
| Italy | ~14-17% | Traditional Mediterranean diet; lowest in Europe |
| Japan | ~25-30% | Strong fresh food culture; high longevity rates |
A Pattern Worth Noting
Countries with the lowest ultra-processed food consumption tend to have stronger food cultures centered on home cooking, fresh ingredients, and traditional recipes. Countries with the highest rates share characteristics such as large multinational food company presence, extensive convenience food infrastructure, and longer average working hours that drive demand for quick-preparation meals. These structural factors suggest that individual dietary education alone is unlikely to shift population-level UPF consumption significantly.
What the Data Means for Public Health
The CDC/NCHS data on ultra-processed food consumption has become foundational to public health discussions in the United States. When more than half of a population's calories come from ultra-processed sources, the implications extend beyond individual dietary advice to systemic questions about the food supply, food policy, and healthcare costs.
Research has linked high ultra-processed food intake to increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and depression. Our health effects guide covers this evidence in detail. When these associations are considered alongside the NHANES consumption data, the scale of potential public health impact becomes clear: the majority of the population is consuming a majority of their calories from food categories associated with chronic disease risk.
This data has directly influenced policy discussions, including the MAHA commission's recommendations and the FDA/USDA Request for Information on defining ultra-processed food. It has also informed state-level initiatives such as California's school meal reform and advocacy from organizations like the American Heart Association.
Why This Data Matters
- Establishes a quantitative baseline for tracking dietary trends over time
- Identifies the age groups and food categories where interventions could have the greatest impact
- Provides evidence for policymakers considering food labeling, school meal reform, and nutrition program standards
- Enables researchers to correlate UPF consumption trends with chronic disease prevalence data
Limitations to Consider
- Dietary recalls rely on self-reporting, which introduces underreporting bias
- NOVA classification can be subjective for borderline products
- Cross-sectional data cannot establish causation between UPF intake and health outcomes
- Consumption patterns may differ from typical intake on any given recall day
How This Data Is Collected: NHANES Methodology
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and is the primary data source for these ultra-processed food statistics. Understanding how the data is collected helps contextualize the findings and their limitations.
NHANES uses a stratified, multistage probability design to select a nationally representative sample of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population. Each survey cycle includes approximately 5,000 participants who complete both interviews and physical examinations.
24-Hour Dietary Recall
Trained interviewers conduct in-person 24-hour dietary recall interviews using the USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method. Participants describe every food and beverage consumed in the previous 24 hours, including quantities, preparation methods, and brand names. A second recall is conducted by telephone 3-10 days later. Each food item is then mapped to a USDA food code and classified according to the NOVA system.
NOVA Classification Applied to NHANES
Researchers classify each USDA food code into one of the four NOVA groups. This classification step is where some methodological debate exists, as certain foods can be classified differently depending on interpretation. For example, some researchers classify store-bought hummus as processed (NOVA Group 3), while others classify it as ultra-processed (NOVA Group 4) if it contains industrial emulsifiers. The NCHS data brief uses a standardized classification protocol to ensure consistency.
Sample Size and Representativeness
NHANES oversamples certain demographic groups to ensure adequate representation, then applies statistical weights to produce nationally representative estimates. The sample is designed to represent the U.S. population across age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income levels. This design makes NHANES the most authoritative source for population-level dietary data in the United States.
A Note on Precision
The ranges cited throughout this page (for example, 55-60% for adults) reflect variation across survey cycles, age subgroups, and methodological choices in NOVA classification. Different published analyses of the same NHANES data may report slightly different figures depending on which survey years are included, how mixed dishes are classified, and whether the analysis uses one or both dietary recall days. The overall finding -- that a majority of American calories come from ultra-processed food -- is consistent across all major analyses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the 55-60% statistic come from?
The statistic comes from NCHS Data Brief No. 536, published by the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data is derived from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) dietary recall interviews conducted with nationally representative samples of the U.S. population. Participants report everything they ate and drank over a 24-hour period, and researchers classify each food item using the NOVA system to calculate the percentage of total energy intake from ultra-processed foods.
Why do children consume a higher percentage of calories from ultra-processed food than adults?
Several factors contribute to higher UPF consumption among children and adolescents. School meals, while improved in recent years, still contain substantial ultra-processed items. Children are also more exposed to marketing for packaged snacks, sweetened cereals, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Additionally, convenience foods are heavily relied upon in households with working parents. NHANES data consistently shows that the 2-19 age group derives 62-67% of calories from ultra-processed sources, compared to 55-57% for adults.
How does NHANES measure food consumption?
NHANES uses 24-hour dietary recall interviews conducted by trained interviewers. Participants describe all foods and beverages consumed in the previous 24 hours, including portion sizes, preparation methods, and brand names where applicable. A second recall is conducted by phone several days later. Researchers then classify each reported food item according to the NOVA framework and calculate the proportion of total caloric intake from each NOVA group. While dietary recalls have known limitations such as underreporting, NHANES remains the gold standard for population-level dietary surveillance in the United States.
Has ultra-processed food consumption been increasing over time?
Yes. Analysis of NHANES data across multiple survey cycles shows a steady increase. In the early 2000s, approximately 53-54% of adult calories came from ultra-processed foods. By the most recent survey cycles, that figure has risen to approximately 57%. The trend is consistent across most demographic groups, though the rate of increase varies. Researchers attribute the rise to expanding availability of convenience foods, growth in away-from-home eating, and the increasing prevalence of ultra-processed ingredients in products not traditionally considered highly processed.
How does the U.S. compare to other countries in ultra-processed food consumption?
The United States has among the highest rates of ultra-processed food consumption globally. The U.K. and Canada have comparable rates at roughly 50-57% of calories. Australia is similar at approximately 42%. In contrast, countries like France, Italy, and Japan report substantially lower rates, typically between 14-36% of total caloric intake from ultra-processed sources. Brazil, where the NOVA classification was developed, reports approximately 20-30%. These differences correlate with distinct food cultures, regulatory environments, and the relative penetration of packaged convenience foods in each market.
Continue Learning
Health Effects of UPF →
Review the research linking ultra-processed food consumption to chronic disease, obesity, and cardiovascular outcomes
How to Reduce Ultra-Processed Food →
Practical strategies for gradually reducing ultra-processed food intake without an all-or-nothing approach
MAHA Report on UPF →
How the federal MAHA commission is using this data to shape ultra-processed food policy recommendations
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