Americans eat more ultra-processed food than they realize, new survey finds

Nine in 10 Americans are eating ultra-processed foods without realizing it, according to new research.A survey of 2,000 general population Americans explored how respondents think, feel, and make decisions about ultra-processed foods, and just how far off their perception is from reality.Respondents estimate their diet consists of only 16% ultra-processed foods; however, the CDC data show ultra-processed foods make up more than half of the average American’s diet, currently estimated at 53% — meaning most people are underestimating their own exposure by more than three times.Conducted by Talker Research for Amy’s Kitchen, the survey found that the blind spot runs deep: while most Americans consume ultra-processed foods at least once a week, just 9% can correctly identify which foods are actually considered ultra-processed.Many commonly purchased diet staples like sliced bread (42%), breakfast cereal (35%), deli meat (33%), and crackers (33%) often fall into the “ultra-processed” category without respondents realizing it.Meanwhile, perceived “safe” choices like plant-based milks (50%), protein bars (45%), and granola bars (45%) often undergo heavy processing.On the other hand, respondents mistook whole foods like pasteurized milk (50%) and rolled oats (40%) for being processed, and mildly processed options like kombucha (16%) or canned beans or vegetables (11%) were wrongly flagged as ultra-processed.More than a third believe any level of processing automatically makes a food “bad” (37%), mistaking all jarred (54%), canned (49%) or frozen (45%) foods as being just as unhealthy as cookies or chips.Half of respondents say they are not confident they know the difference between “processed” and “ultra-processed” at all, and 44% say they usually feel overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information about what foods they should or shouldn’t eat.“Consumers shouldn’t have to be experts in food processing to understand what they’re eating...