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CDC: Ultra-Processed Foods Make Up 55% of American Calories

story

1 day ago

Above: A customer shops for cookies at a grocery store on Dec. 11, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Image copyright: Scott Olson/Getty Images

story last updated 1 day ago

The Spin

Narrative A

Ultra-processed foods are a public health crisis that demands immediate government intervention. These industrial food products are literally poisoning Americans, especially children who get nearly two-thirds of their calories from junk. Evidence suggests that these foods greatly inhibit weight loss and increase cravings, which could make avoiding them the key to a healthier life.

CNN New York Times

Narrative B

The modest decrease in ultra-processed food consumption over the past decade suggests Americans are becoming more health-conscious and making better dietary choices. Additionally, the ultra-processed label is likely too broad to be meaningful for most Americans, since it lumps pizza and chips together with sandwiches and sliced bread, and most cannot avoid them entirely.

New York Times