Exploring disparities in the proportion of ultra-processed foods and beverages purchased in grocery stores by US households in 2020.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

American diets are increasingly based on ultra-processed foods (UPF). Current research, particularly on socio-economic differentials, is lacking. This study aimed to provide an updated examination of US household purchases of UPF and how this differs by race-ethnicity, household income and household education.

Design

The NielsenIQ Consumer Panel 2020 was utilised for analysis. Each food and beverage product purchased by US households was assigned a level of processing under the Nova level of processing classification system. The volume of UPF purchased overall and by food group was determined for each Nova processing group and examined by race-ethnicity, education and income. Results were stratified by race-ethnicity within each income group. A P value < 0·0

SUBMITTER: Dunford EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12100555 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature