A government-endorsed study that asserts a diet heavy in ultra-processed foods can remain balanced and nutritious has elicited sharp criticism among nutrition researchers who allege it confuses the public about one of the major health issues of our time: ultra-processed foods.
In a novel stance, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service’s Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center argue that ultra-processed foods can make up to 91 percent of a balanced diet. The preliminary study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contends that a diet predominantly comprising ultra-processed foods can score highly on diet quality and meet most macro and micronutrient requirements.
