Contributions of processed foods to dietary intake in the US from 2003-2008: a report of the Food and Nutrition Science Solutions Joint Task Force of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society for Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologists, and International Food Information Council

Abstract

Processed foods are an integral part of American diets, but a comparison of the nutrient contribution of foods by level of processing with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans regarding nutrients to encourage or to reduce has not been documented. The mean reported daily dietary intakes of these nutrients and other components were examined among 25,351 participants ≥2 y of age in the 2003-2008 NHANES to determine the contribution of processed food to total intakes. Also examined was the percent contribution of each nutrient to the total reported daily nutrient intake for each of the 5 categories of food that were defined by the level of processing. All processing levels contributed to nutrient intakes, and none of the levels contributed solely to nutrients to be encouraged or solely to food components to be reduced. The processing level was a minor determinant of individual foods' nutrient contribution to the diet and, therefore, should not be a primary factor when selecting a balanced diet.

FIGURE 1

The contribution of energy and nutrients to the total daily dietary intake in the U.S. population ≥2 y of age as drawn from NHANES 2003–2008, by the International Food Information Council Foundation categories: (A) minimally processed foods, (B) foods processed for preservation, (C) mixtures of combined ingredients, (D) ready-to-eat processed foods, and (E) prepared foods/meals. Bars represent mean percent contribution to the total daily dietary intake (n = 25,351), Dotted line indicates energy contributions to total diet of each respective IFIC Foundation category represented. Survey weights and adjustments for the complex survey design were properly applied allowing inference to the noninstitutionalized U.S. population.