Abstract

Background

A larger share of ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPF) in the diet is increasingly linked with poor diet quality, weight gain and elevated risk of diet-related chronic disease. This study used 2015 national-level data, the most recent available, to characterize the intake of UPF among Canadians and to examine changes since 2004.

Methods

The 2004 and 2015 Canadian Community Health Surveys provided 24-hour dietary recall data for Canadians aged 2 or older. All food and drink items were classified according to type of food processing using the NOVA classification. The mean energy contribution of UPF (as a percentage of total daily energy intake) was compared across survey years for the overall population and for eight age-sex groups. The National Cancer Institute’s methodology was used to assess the distribution of usual energy contributed by UPF.

Results

On average, UPF contributed 47.8% (95% CI: 47.3% to 48.3%) of total daily energy in 2004 and 45.7% (95% CI: 45.0% to 46.4%) in 2015 among the overall population, and more than half of total daily energy among children and adolescents. Both the mean energy contribution of UPF and their usual energy distribution shifted downward since 2004 for all age-sex groups, except among adults aged 55 or older. The energy contributions of soft drinks, fruit juices and fruit drinks declined, particularly among children and adolescents. Ultra-processed breads contributed more energy in 2015 for nearly all age-sex groups.

Conclusions

As in 2004, the overall dietary share of UPF in Canada remained high in 2015, but intakes of some UPF, particularly beverages, declined. The energy contribution of UPF remained highest among children and adolescents, and increased among adults aged 55 or older.

Keywords

Canadian Community Health Survey, nutrition surveys, dietary intake, ultra-processed food, NOVA

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202001100001-eng

Findings

Ultra-processed food and drink products (UPF) now dominate the food supply in high-income nations, including Canada, and their sales and consumption have been steadily increasing in lower-middle- and middle-income countries. In 2016, per capita sales of UPF were estimated at 275 kg per year in Canada, the fourth highest among 80 countries. Introduced a decade ago by researchers at Brazil’s University of São Paolo, the concept of UPF refers food and drink products that are industrial formulations of mostly cheap sources of dietary energy and nutrients, along with additives. These products are manufactured using a series of processes (hence “ultra-processed”) and contain few whole foods, if any. Typical examples include soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet and savoury packaged snacks, mass-produced industrial breads, reconstituted meat products such as burgers and hot dogs, and fast-food and frozen dishes. As a group, these products are characterized by convenience (i.e., durable, ready-to-eat), hyper-palatability, attractive packaging and extensive marketing. [Full article]

Authors

Jane Y. Polsky (jane.polsky@canada.ca) and Didier Garriguet (didier.garriguet@canada.ca) are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. Jean-Claude Moubarac is with the Université de Montréal.

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