Research reveals uptick in processed foods consumption in Canada
. The highest consumers are kids ages 9-13 who get 57% of their calories from energy-dense, nutritionally-lacking products.
New research commissioned by Heart & Stroke, a Canadian charity dedicated to advocacy, education and the funding of research surrounding heart disease and stroke, shows that ultra-processed food consumption in Canada continues to increase and is alarmingly high, accounting for almost half of the daily calorie intake. Most troubling is that young people get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods – more than any other age group. The highest consumers are kids ages 9-13 who get 57% of their calories from energy-dense, nutritionally-lacking products.
“Ultra-processed food consumption increased from 47.7% of our daily calories in 2004 to 48.3% in 2015. Consumption of these products is high amongst all socio-economic groups,” says Dr. Jean-Claude Moubarac, author of the report and assistant professor at the University of Montreal, Canada.