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John,
If you walk into a grocery store, you'll likely walk out with at least a handful of ultraprocessed items in your cart.[1]
In the average American's diet, 58% of the food is ultraprocessed. And you might be surprised to learn which foods are heavily processed -- it's not just candies and chips, it may be the granola bar, bread or other snacks that end up in your kid's lunchbox.[2]
Ultraprocessed foods aren't just ubiquitous. They may also be unhealthy. Here's what you need to know about ultraprocessed foods:
It all started in the 1970s, when ultraprocessed foods came onto the scene and quickly became popular because of their cheap and efficient production. [] As they rose in popularity, the U.S. Food & Drug Association (FDA) studied their safety and determined, with the science they had at the time, that processed foods were generally safe.[3]
"Ultraprocessed" means that a food is typically made with a long list of certain ingredients, many of which aren't typically used at home.
These foods tend to be calorie-dense, and high in fats, salt and sugar. For example, processed breakfast cereals may be advertised as healthy options, but they are often nutritionally lacking.[4]
Often, we're drawn to these foods because they're sweeter and easier to chew and swallow. But because they're less filling, Americans tend to eat more of them.[5]
Processed and ultraprocessed foods have become the backbone of large-scale food production, but the FDA hasn't done any additional research on their safety since the 1970s.
Researchers have linked diets that are high in ultraprocessed foods to over 30 diseases.[6] While they don't fully understand how ultraprocessed foods impact health, here's what they do know:
* Calorie-dense ultraprocessed foods lack many key nutrients. And because we absorb these foods quicker than others, ultraprocessed foods may cause blood sugar spikes.
* Their quick absorption paired with their soft and simple textures means that ultraprocessed foods are eaten quickly and past the point of satiation. And while many factors contribute to rising rates of obesity, ultraprocessed foods are certainly on the list.
* Some researchers have even linked overconsumption of ultraprocessed foods with higher rates of dementia.[7]
In some ways, we've become conditioned to seek out the sweet tastes, easy textures and ability to eat more and more without feeling full. But ultraprocessed foods may not be providing the essential nutrients that keep us healthy.
Most Americans don't want to become perfect eaters. But we do want a safe and transparent food system, with food that fuels and nourishes.
That's why we're urging the FDA to reconsider the safety of food additives that have previously been recognized as safe for human consumption.
Not only would this help make Americans healthier and less prone to disease, it may also support additional research into the effects associated with what has become the standard American diet.
Thank you,
Faye Park
President
P.S. We rely on support from people like you to advocate for the health and safety of all Americans. Please donate today and help make this work possible.
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1. Liam Sacino, "Are ultraprocessed foods safe?," PIRG, October 22, 2025.
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2. Rachel Dixon, "Ultra-processed foods: the 19 things everyone needs to know," The Guardian, September 6, 2023.
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3. Liam Sacino, "Are ultraprocessed foods safe?," PIRG, October 22, 2025.
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4. Sara Berg, "What doctors wish patients knew about ultraprocessed foods," American Medical Association, November 8, 2024.
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5. Liam Sacino, "Are ultraprocessed foods safe?," PIRG, October 22, 2025.
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6. Sara Berg, "What doctors wish patients knew about ultraprocessed foods," American Medical Association, November 8, 2024.
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7. Uazman Alam, Conor S. Gillespie, Alex E. Henny, "High intake of ultra-processed food is associated with dementia in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies," PubMed, October 13, 2023.
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