Consumption in the United States of ultra-transformed food has been slightly available in recent years, reveals a study published Thursday, but it remains at a higher world and has more than half of the caloric contributions of the Americans.
These foods and drinks, such as burgers, sodas, industrial cakes or chips are rich in sugar, fats or salt as well as additives.
Their overconsumption is associated with an obesity, diabetes, or even cardiovascular disease.
According to a survey published by the country’s main health agency, CDCs, these foods constituted 55% of the caloric contributions of the Americans between 2021 and 2023.
This average was higher in minors, the consumption of ultra-transformed foods counting for almost 62% of their calories, compared to 53% for adults.
Figures placing the United States among countries consuming the most calories from ultra-transformed food, with the United Kingdom and Canada.
Other western countries such as Italy and France have healthier eating habits, according to studies carried out in recent years, Italians consuming less than 20% calories from ultra-transformed food, compared to 30 to 35% estimated among the French.
The latest American figures, however, carrying a note of hope, the share of calories ingested linked to the ultra-transformed food which has slightly decreased on the last period studied compared to the previous ones.
Consumption by adults was indeed estimated at 56% for 2017-2018. For minors, it was 65.6%.
The reasons for this slight decrease, which occurs while communication on the risks allocated to the overconsumption of these foods has increased in recent years, is not explained.
The new Minister of American Health, Robert Kennedy Jr., challenged for his anti -vaccini positions, has made the fight against chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, one of his priorities, and is a vocal criticism of junk food.
