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Table 1 Distribution (%) of the total daily per capita energy intake (kcal) according to NOVA food groups by quintiles of the dietary share of ultra-processed foods, US population aged 1+ years (NHANES 2009–2010) (N = 9,317)

From: The share of ultra-processed foods and the overall nutritional quality of diets in the US: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

  

Quintile of dietary share of ultra-processed foods (% of total energy intake)a

All quintiles

(n = 9,317)

(2,069.9 kcal)

Q1

(n = 1,941)

(1,970.9 kcal)

Q2

(n = 1,903)

(2,017.6 kcal)

Q3

(n = 1,791)

(2,061.8 kcal)

Q4

(n = 1,785)

(2,151.5 kcal)

Q5

(n = 1,897)

(2,147.7 kcal)

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods

30.2

48.3

36.7

29.4

23.3

13.2*

 Meat (includes poultry)

8.0

11.6

9.6

8

6.7

4*

 Fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juices

5.5

8.8

6.8

5.4

4.3

2.5*

 Milk and plain yogurt

5.1

6.4

6.1

5.3

4.8

2.9*

 Grains

2.9

6.3

3.4

2.3

1.6

0.7*

 Roots and tubers

1.7

2.6

2.3

1.7

1.2

0.7*

 Eggs

1.5

2.1

1.8

1.4

1.2

0.7*

 Pasta

1.4

2.4

1.6

1.4

1.1

0.5*

 Legumes

0.9

1.8

1.1

0.8

0.5

0.2*

 Fish and seafood

0.8

1.5

1

0.7

0.4

0.2*

 Vegetables

0.9

1.5

1

0.8

0.6

0.4*

 Other unprocessed or minimally processed foodsb

1.7

3.2

2

1.5

1

0.5*

Processed culinary ingredients

2.9

4.9

3.4

2.9

2.2

1.2*

 Sugarc

1.1

1.6

1.3

1.1

0.9

0.6*

 Plant oils

1.2

2.5

1.4

1.2

0.7

0.3*

 Animal fatsd

0.5

0.7

0.6

0.6

0.5

0.2*

 Other processed culinary ingredientse

0.05

0.1

0.04

0.05

0.03

0.01

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods + Processed culinary ingredients

33.1

53.2

40.1

32.4

25.4

14.5*

 Processed foods

9.3

14.1

11.2

9.2

7.2

4.8*

 Cheese

3.6

4.1

4.1

3.9

3.4

2.5*

 Ham and other salted, smoked, or canned meat or fish

1.2

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.1

0.8

 Vegetables and other plant foods preserved in brine

0.7

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5*

 Other processed foodsf

3.7

7.6

4.8

3.2

2.1

1*

Ultra-processed foods

57.5

32.6

48.6

58.4

67.3

80.7*

 Breads

9.5

7.2

9.9

10.3

10.6

9.4*

 Soft and fruit drinksg

6.9

3

4.7

6.7

8.2

11.8*

 Cakes, cookies, and pies

5.5

2.6

4.6

5.5

6.8

7.9*

 Salty snacks

4.4

2.4

3.7

4.3

5.4

6.2*

 Frozen and shelf-stable plate meals

3.9

1.3

2.2

3.7

5.2

7.3*

 Pizza (ready-to-eat/heat)

3.3

0.5

1.4

2.6

4.1

7.8*

 Breakfast cereals

3.1

2.2

3.2

3.6

3.5

3.1

 Sauces, dressings, and gravies

2.5

2.4

2.7

2.7

2.8

2.1

 Reconstituted meat or fish products

2.3

0.9

2.1

2.4

2.9

2.9*

 Ice cream and ice pops

2.3

1.1

1.9

2.4

2.9

3*

 Sweet snacks

2.3

1.1

2.1

2.4

2.7

3.4*

 Milk-based drinks

1.9

1.1

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.6*

 Dessertsh

1.8

1.3

1.9

2.1

2.1

1.8*

 French fries and other potato products

1.7

0.4

1.1

1.7

1.9

3.5*

 Sandwiches and hamburgers on bun (ready-to-eat/heat)

1.4

0.2

0.5

1.2

1.5

3.5*

 Instant and canned soups

0.9

0.7

0.8

0.9

0.9

1

 Other ultra-processed foodsi

3.8

3.9

4

3.9

3.7

3.2

Total

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

  1. aMean (range) dietary share of ultra-processed foods per quintile: 1st = 32.6 (0 to 42.6); 2nd = 48.6 (42.6 to 54.0); 3rd = 58.4 (54.0 to 62.8); 4th = 67.3 (62.8 to 72.3); 5th = 80.7 (72.3 to 100)
  2. bIncluding nuts and seeds (unsalted); yeast; dried fruits (without added sugars) and vegetables; non pre-sweetened, non-whitened, non-flavored coffee and tea; coconut water and meat; homemade soup and sauces; flours; tapioca
  3. cIncluding honey, molasses, maple syrup (100%)
  4. dIncluding butter, lard, and cream
  5. eIncluding starches; coconut and milk cream; unsweetened baking chocolate, cocoa powder, and gelatin powder; vinegar; baking powder and baking soda
  6. fIncluding salted or sugared nuts and seeds; peanut, sesame, cashew, and almond butter or spread; beer and wine
  7. gIncluding energy drinks, sports drinks, nonalcoholic wine
  8. hIncluding ready-to-eat and dry-mix desserts such as pudding
  9. iIncluding soy products such as meatless patties and fish sticks; baby food and baby formula; dips, spreads, mustard, and catsup; margarine; sugar substitutes, sweeteners, and all syrups (excluding 100% maple syrup); distilled alcoholic drinks
  10. *Significant linear trend across all quintiles (p < 0.001), both in unadjusted and models adjusted for sex, age group (1-5, 6–11, 12–19, 20–39, 40–59, 60+ years), race/ethnicity (Mexican-American, Other Hispanic, Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black and Other Race – Including Multi-Racial), ratio of family income to poverty (SNAP 0.00–1.30, >1.30–3.50, and >3.50 and over), and educational attainment (<12, 12 years, and >12 years)
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Population Health Metrics

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