What percentage of the average US caloric intake currently consists of ultra-processed foods?
Answer
58%
A major driver of deteriorating human health outcomes within the modern food system is the overconsumption of highly refined and manufactured products. This trend is often described as the 'McDonaldization of society,' prioritizing standardization and ease of consumption. In the United States, ultra-processed foods—which are engineered to be hyper-palatable due to high sugar, fat, and sodium content—now constitute an estimated 58% of the total caloric intake for the average person. This ubiquity contributes directly to the nation's syndemic of poor health outcomes, including elevated rates of obesity, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, disproportionately affecting minority populations.
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