American Heart Jumps Ahead of MAHA on Ultra-Processed Foods

Late last week, the American Heart Association jumped out in front of a highly anticipated MAHA report with its own scientific advisory statement on ultra-processed foods. AHA’s statement made two points clear. Most ultra-processed foods are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat and thus can be considered unhealthy. But sweeping generalizations about them are not always accurate because many unknowns remain. Maya Vadiveloo, who chaired the writing of this publication, explains:

“The relationship between UPFs and health is complex and multifaceted. We know that eating foods with too much saturated fat, added sugars and salt is unhealthy. What we don’t know is if certain ingredients or processing techniques make a food unhealthy above and beyond their poor nutritional composition.”

The timing of this release seems more than coincidental. The report of the MAHA commission was due yesterday. But folks who thought they would receive its revelations instead received word they would have to keep waiting. The report, for now, will go only to the President. A public release will come later.

UPFs Dominate American Diets

Reinforcing the concern that American Heart expresses in its advisory is a new CDC report on the prevalence of ultra-processed food in the American diet. These foods comprise 53% of what all Americans eat and an even higher proportion – 62% – for children and young persons under 18.

American Heart says we need more research on ultra-processed foods. But we know enough to give some good advice about them. They write in their advisory:

“The focus should be on cutting back the most harmful UPFs that are already high in unhealthy fats, added sugars, and salt while allowing a small number of select, affordable UPFs of better diet quality to be consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern.”

Learn to spot the most unhealthy options and avoid them. Seems simple enough, though plenty of devilish details are lurking out there. Prebiotic soda anyone?

Click here for the AHA advisory, here and here for further perspective. For the new CDC report click here and then here for a sample of reporting on it.

poppi Prebiotic Soda, photograph by Ted Kyle / ConscienHealth

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August 13, 2025