Ultra-Processed Food Around the World: Consumption & Regulation by Country
Ultra-processed food consumption varies dramatically by country, from roughly 10% of calories in India to nearly 60% in the United States. So do the policy responses. Here is how different countries measure up and what regulatory approaches they are taking.
Information current as of February 2026
Consumption estimates are drawn from published dietary surveys and peer-reviewed research. Regulatory information reflects the latest available policy status in each country. Check national health authority websites for the most recent developments.
A Global Snapshot: How UPF Consumption Varies by Country
Ultra-processed food consumption is not distributed evenly around the world. High-income, English-speaking countries tend to derive the largest share of their calories from ultra-processed products, while countries with strong culinary traditions built around fresh ingredients -- particularly in Southern Europe, East Asia, and parts of Latin America -- consume significantly less.
These differences are not just cultural. They reflect decades of divergent food policy, agricultural subsidies, trade agreements, and marketing regulations. Countries where processed food companies face fewer restrictions on advertising, where agricultural policy subsidizes commodity crops used in UPF manufacturing, and where convenience food infrastructure has displaced traditional markets tend to have higher consumption rates.
Understanding these global patterns matters because they demonstrate that high UPF consumption is not inevitable. Countries with active regulatory approaches have maintained lower rates or slowed growth, suggesting that policy choices make a measurable difference.
~57%
of U.S. calories from ultra-processed food -- among the highest globally
~10-15%
of calories from UPF in countries like India and Italy -- among the lowest
2014
year Brazil became the first country to include UPF warnings in dietary guidelines
Country-by-Country Comparison: UPF Consumption and Regulation
The following table compares estimated ultra-processed food consumption rates and regulatory approaches across 12 countries. Consumption figures represent the best available estimates from national dietary surveys and peer-reviewed research using the NOVA classification system. Exact percentages vary by study methodology and year of data collection.
| Country | Est. UPF % of Calories | Regulatory Approach | Key Policies |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ~57% | Emerging | FDA/USDA Request for Information (2025); no federal definition; state-level legislation gaining momentum |
| United Kingdom | ~55% | Under review | SACN evidence review; traffic-light labeling (nutrient-based); advertising restrictions on HFSS foods to children |
| Canada | ~48% | Guidelines-based | Canada's Food Guide (2019) emphasizes whole foods; front-of-pack labeling for high sodium, sugar, saturated fat |
| Australia | ~42% | Voluntary labeling | Health Star Rating system (voluntary); dietary guidelines recommend limiting "discretionary foods" |
| Germany | ~40% | EU framework | Voluntary Nutri-Score adoption; national reduction strategy for sugar, fat, and salt in processed foods |
| France | ~35% | Active labeling | Nutri-Score originator; dietary guidelines reference processing level; ANSES research on UPF health effects |
| Mexico | ~30% | Mandatory labeling | Black octagonal warning labels (2020); advertising restrictions to children; junk food tax on sugar-sweetened beverages |
| South Korea | ~25% | Advertising controls | Restrictions on junk food advertising to children; "Green Food Zone" policy near schools; strong school meal standards |
| Japan | ~25% | Cultural + regulatory | Shokuiku (food education) law; strict additive regulations; school lunch programs emphasize whole foods and local sourcing |
| Brazil | ~20% | Pioneer | First country to include NOVA in dietary guidelines (2014); front-of-pack labeling (2022); restrictions on UPF marketing to children |
| Italy | ~15% | Cultural resistance | Strong traditional food culture; opposition to Nutri-Score (favors NutrInform Battery); protected designation of origin (PDO) system |
| India | ~10% | Developing | FSSAI front-of-pack labeling (under development); traditional food systems still dominant; rapid UPF market growth |
A Note on Estimates
UPF consumption percentages are approximations drawn from multiple published studies, and methodologies vary between countries and research groups. Some estimates rely on national dietary recall surveys, while others use household food purchase data. The figures here represent the general range reported in the literature and should be treated as indicative rather than precise.
Brazil: The Country That Started the Conversation
Any discussion of international UPF policy begins with Brazil. The NOVA classification system was developed by researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, and Brazil became the first country to incorporate NOVA-based guidance into its official dietary guidelines in 2014. The Brazilian Dietary Guidelines do not just recommend eating more fruits and vegetables -- they explicitly advise citizens to "avoid ultra-processed foods."
This approach was groundbreaking because it shifted the focus from individual nutrients to the degree of industrial processing a food has undergone. Rather than telling people to limit sodium or added sugar in isolation, Brazil told its population to limit the category of products that tend to be highest in all of those things simultaneously.
The results have been influential beyond Brazil's borders. Multiple countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia have cited Brazil's guidelines as a model. In 2022, Brazil added mandatory front-of-pack warning labels for products high in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium -- a system that disproportionately flags ultra-processed products. The country also restricts marketing of these products to children, addressing the demand side of the equation as well as labeling.
Countries That Have Followed Brazil's Lead
Several nations have adopted or adapted NOVA-based language in their dietary guidelines or food policy frameworks:
- Uruguay -- dietary guidelines advise limiting ultra-processed food (2016)
- Ecuador -- traffic-light labeling system with processing awareness campaigns
- Peru -- octagonal warning labels modeled on Chile's system
- Israel -- dietary guidelines reference NOVA classification (2019)
- Belgium and France -- dietary guidelines recommend limiting ultra-processed products
Latin America: Leading the World in Warning Labels
Latin America has emerged as the global leader in mandatory front-of-pack food labeling. While these systems technically target nutrient thresholds rather than processing level directly, their practical effect is to flag ultra-processed products far more often than minimally processed ones.
Chile's Black Label System
Chile implemented mandatory black octagonal warning labels in 2016 for products exceeding thresholds for calories, sugar, sodium, or saturated fat. The law also banned advertising of labeled products to children under 14 and prohibited their sale in schools. Research published after implementation found a measurable reduction in purchases of products carrying warning labels -- approximately 24% for sugar-sweetened beverages.
Chile's approach has been called the most comprehensive front-of-pack labeling system in the world.
Mexico's Octagonal Warnings
Mexico adopted a similar system in 2020, requiring black octagonal warnings on packaged food and beverages that exceed nutrient thresholds. Mexico also added warnings for caffeine and non-caloric sweeteners. As one of the largest food markets in Latin America, Mexico's adoption of mandatory labeling sent a strong signal to multinational food companies that reformulation would be necessary to compete in the region.
Mexico's policy was passed despite significant industry opposition.
The Latin American experience offers a direct lesson for U.S. policymakers: mandatory labeling systems can be implemented at national scale, they do influence consumer purchasing behavior, and they create market incentives for food manufacturers to reformulate products. Whether the FDA will adopt a similar approach remains an open question.
Europe: Front-of-Pack Labeling and Ongoing Debate
The European Union has taken a more incremental approach to UPF policy, driven by extensive research but complicated by the diversity of food cultures across 27 member states. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed the evidence on ultra-processed food and health outcomes, and the EU's Joint Research Centre has funded significant studies, but no unified EU-wide UPF definition or labeling mandate has been adopted.
Nutri-Score (France, Belgium, Germany, and Others)
Developed in France, Nutri-Score assigns foods a letter grade from A (best nutritional quality) to E (lowest) displayed in a color-coded label on the front of packaging. While Nutri-Score is primarily nutrient-based, its algorithm tends to give lower scores to ultra-processed products because they are disproportionately high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. Adoption is voluntary in most countries, and Italy has actively opposed its EU-wide adoption, arguing it unfairly penalizes traditional Mediterranean products like olive oil and aged cheese.
EFSA Additive Reassessments
The European Food Safety Authority has been conducting systematic reassessments of food additives approved before 2009. This process has resulted in the reclassification or withdrawal of several additives commonly found in ultra-processed products, including certain artificial colors linked to behavioral effects in children. While not an UPF-specific policy, these reassessments effectively tighten the regulatory environment for the most heavily processed products.
UK: A Separate Path Post-Brexit
Since leaving the EU, the United Kingdom has pursued its own food policy trajectory. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has reviewed the evidence on ultra-processed food, and the UK government has implemented restrictions on advertising foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) to children -- including a ban on pre-9pm TV advertising that took effect in late 2025. The UK's existing traffic-light labeling system focuses on nutrients, not processing level, but the conversation about incorporating processing-based criteria is active.
Asia: Lower Consumption, Rapid Growth
Asian countries generally report lower ultra-processed food consumption rates than Western nations, but the trajectory is concerning. Urbanization, rising incomes, and aggressive expansion by multinational food companies are driving rapid growth in packaged and processed food sales across the region.
Japan
Japan maintains relatively low UPF consumption through a combination of cultural practices and deliberate policy. The Shokuiku (Food Education) Basic Act, passed in 2005, mandates nutrition education in schools and promotes traditional Japanese dietary patterns. School lunch programs emphasize locally sourced, minimally processed meals prepared from scratch. Japan also maintains stricter food additive regulations than the United States, with fewer approved additives overall.
South Korea
South Korea has implemented a "Green Food Zone" policy that restricts the sale of certain processed foods within 200 meters of schools. The country also has advertising restrictions on foods marketed to children and maintains rigorous school meal standards. Like Japan, South Korea benefits from a strong traditional food culture that has historically emphasized fermented foods, fresh vegetables, and home-cooked meals.
India
India currently has among the lowest UPF consumption rates of any major country, but the market is growing rapidly. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is developing front-of-pack labeling regulations, though implementation has been delayed. India's challenge is unique: its enormous population, diverse regional food systems, and wide economic disparities mean that UPF growth patterns vary dramatically between urban and rural areas.
The Growth Rate Matters More Than the Current Rate
While Asian countries currently have lower UPF consumption than the US and Europe, several are experiencing double-digit annual growth in processed food sales. If current trends continue, some Asian markets could reach Western consumption levels within a generation -- making early policy intervention potentially more impactful than retrospective regulation in countries where UPF consumption is already deeply entrenched.
What the United States Can Learn from International Approaches
The US currently has among the highest UPF consumption rates in the world and one of the least developed regulatory frameworks for addressing it. International experience suggests several policy tools that could be adapted for the American context.
Warning Labels Work
Evidence from Chile and Mexico shows that mandatory front-of-pack warning labels reduce purchases of flagged products and incentivize manufacturers to reformulate. The US already requires nutrition facts panels but has no equivalent for processing level. The FDA's ongoing process to potentially define ultra-processed food could lay the groundwork for such a system.
Dietary Guidelines Shape Behavior Over Time
Brazil's inclusion of processing-level guidance in its national dietary guidelines has influenced food culture, education, and purchasing patterns over a decade. The US Dietary Guidelines for Americans currently make no recommendations about food processing level -- incorporating such guidance in the 2030 edition could shift public awareness even without mandatory regulation.
School Meal Programs Are a Proven Entry Point
Japan and South Korea demonstrate that school meal standards emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods are feasible at national scale. The US is beginning to move in this direction through state-level school meal legislation, but a federal framework modeled on successful Asian approaches could reach far more children.
Food Education Changes Generational Patterns
Japan's Shokuiku law demonstrates that mandatory food education in schools can sustainably influence dietary patterns across generations. Teaching children about food preparation, ingredients, and processing -- rather than just calories and macronutrients -- builds lasting knowledge that supports better choices throughout life.
No Single Country Has It Figured Out
Every country's approach has strengths and limitations. The most effective path for the US likely involves combining elements from multiple international models: labeling transparency from Latin America, dietary guideline integration from Brazil, school meal standards from Asia, and additive safety reassessment from Europe. The health effects of ultra-processed food are consistent across populations -- the question is which policy tools are most effective in each cultural and regulatory context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country consumes the most ultra-processed food per capita?
The United States and United Kingdom consistently rank highest in studies measuring ultra-processed food as a share of total caloric intake. Research estimates that approximately 57% of calories consumed in the US and 55% in the UK come from ultra-processed products. Other high-income English-speaking countries like Canada (~48%) and Australia (~42%) also rank near the top. These figures are based on national dietary surveys using the NOVA classification system, and exact percentages vary by study methodology and year.
Why does Brazil have low UPF consumption despite being where NOVA was developed?
Brazil has a strong tradition of home cooking and fresh food markets, and ultra-processed products represent only about 20% of total caloric intake nationally. This cultural food environment is one reason Brazilian researchers were among the first to study the health effects of ultra-processing -- they observed the contrast between traditional diets and the rapid growth of packaged food products. Brazil also became the first country to incorporate NOVA-based guidance into its national dietary guidelines in 2014, explicitly advising citizens to avoid ultra-processed foods.
What is front-of-pack labeling and which countries use it?
Front-of-pack (FOP) labeling systems place nutritional or health warnings on the front of food packaging to help consumers make quick decisions. Chile pioneered mandatory black octagonal warning labels for products high in sugar, sodium, calories, or saturated fat. Mexico adopted a similar system. France developed Nutri-Score, a color-coded rating from A (healthiest) to E. While most FOP systems focus on nutrient content rather than processing level directly, they disproportionately flag ultra-processed products because those products tend to be highest in the targeted nutrients.
Are ultra-processed food consumption rates rising in developing countries?
Yes. While countries in Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America currently have lower UPF consumption rates than North America and Europe, growth rates are accelerating rapidly. Multinational food companies are expanding aggressively into these markets, and urbanization is shifting populations away from traditional food preparation. India, for example, has seen significant growth in packaged and processed food sales over the past decade, even though its overall UPF caloric share remains relatively low compared to Western nations.
What can the United States learn from international UPF policies?
Several lessons emerge from international approaches. Chile and Mexico demonstrate that mandatory warning labels can measurably reduce purchases of flagged products. Brazil shows that incorporating processing-level guidance into dietary guidelines shifts public awareness over time. The European Union illustrates how front-of-pack labeling systems like Nutri-Score can be adopted across multiple countries with different food cultures. For the US, the main takeaway is that multiple policy tools are available and have been tested at scale -- the question is not whether effective approaches exist, but which combination best fits the American regulatory and food system context.
Continue Learning
FDA Ultra-Processed Food Definition →
Where the US stands on defining ultra-processed food at the federal level and what the FDA/USDA Request for Information means
Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Food →
The research linking ultra-processed food consumption to chronic disease, obesity, and other health outcomes across populations
NOVA Food Classification System →
Understand the four-group classification system used by researchers and governments worldwide to categorize foods by processing level
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Product formulations change frequently — always check the actual label for current ingredients and nutrition facts before making purchasing decisions. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.