The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that ultra-processed foods supplied 53% of daily calories for U.S. adults and 61.9% for children and adolescents between August 2021 and August 2023. Intake peaked at 64.8% for children aged 6–11, the agency said. Sandwiches, sweet bakery goods, savory snacks, pizza and sweetened drinks were the leading sources. The CDC warned that diets dominated by ultra-processed products are typically high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats while lacking fiber and whole foods, factors linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the findings underscore an urgent need to strengthen nutrition education and curb reliance on what he called the “processed-food industrial complex.” Kennedy said HHS is urging state governors to require medical schools to add a compulsory nutrition course and is drafting updated national dietary guidelines aimed at reducing ultra-processed food consumption.