RFK Jr. declared a ‘war on added sugar.’ Will Americans stop eating ultra-processed foods?
로버트 F. 케네디 주니어는 ‘첨가당과의 전쟁’을 선포했습니다. 과연 미국인들은 초가공식품 섭취를 중단할까요?
Sara Moniuszko
USA TODAY
Jan. 8, 2026, 12:39 p.m. ET
The new U.S. dietary guidelines call for eating less processed foods, but will Americans really stop reaching for them?
More than half of the calories consumed at home by both adults and children in the U.S. come from ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, according to a 2025 analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics.
But Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to change that by including in the guidelines, for the first time, specific language about reducing highly processed foods, including avoiding added sugars and refined grains.
“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” Kennedy said in the White House press briefing Jan. 7 where the guidelines were announced. “My message is clear: eat real food.”
Ultra-processed foods are factory-made formulations produced largely from refined ingredients, additives (including colorings and preservatives) and little-to-no whole foods. Using artificial flavors and sweeteners, these foods are designed for more palatable tastes and longer shelf life. They’re typically higher in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, and devoid of nutrients and fiber.
Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a cancer epidemiologist focused on nutrition, told USA TODAY the message to eat more whole or minimally processed foods is a good one, but whether Americans will really ditch soda and packaged snacks, “we have to see.”