Which country consumes the most packaged food? A global analysis

December 26, 2025 •

3 min read

According to reports, ultra-processed foods account for roughly 60% of total daily caloric intake in the United States, positioning it as a leading consumer globally. The question of which country consumes the most packaged food is complex, but data consistently points towards a few nations with significantly high intake levels, driven by modern lifestyles and food affordability.

Quick Summary

The United States is a leading consumer of packaged food, largely due to high consumption of ultra-processed items driven by convenience, cost, and urbanization. Other nations, particularly the UK and Canada, also have high rates, while many European countries report lower figures, revealing global dietary disparities.

Key Points

Consumption Leaders: The United States consumes the most ultra-processed food as a percentage of daily calories, followed closely by the United Kingdom.
Defining Processed Food: It is important to differentiate between minimally processed packaged foods (e.g., washed spinach) and ultra-processed foods (e.g., instant noodles with additives).
Driving Factors: High consumption is driven by convenience, lower cost, aggressive marketing, and the hyper-palatability of many ultra-processed products.
European Contrast: European countries like Italy and France consume significantly less ultra-processed food than the US and UK, maintaining diets richer in fresh, whole foods.
Major Health Risks: A diet high in ultra-processed food is linked to severe health issues including obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and mental health problems.

Unpacking the Consumption Trends of Packaged Foods

The rising consumption of packaged food is a defining characteristic of modern global diets, fueled by convenience and economic factors. However, it's crucial to distinguish between minimally processed, simply packaged items like pasteurized milk and frozen vegetables, and ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which contain numerous industrial additives and are designed to be hyper-palatable. When examining which country consumes the most packaged food, the focus must shift to UPF consumption, which provides a more accurate picture of dietary quality and health implications.

The Global Leaders in Ultra-Processed Food Consumption

While market analysis often focuses on total sales volume, public health research highlights the high dietary share of ultra-processed foods as a more significant metric for national consumption habits. Several reports identify the United States as a primary leader in this category.

United States: Studies reveal that ultra-processed foods constitute over half of the average American's daily caloric intake. This trend is exacerbated by high availability in mainstream supermarkets and affordability, which can disproportionately affect lower-income individuals.
United Kingdom: Following closely behind the US, the UK also shows a very high percentage of ultra-processed foods in its national diet, with some reports suggesting over 50% of adult calories come from these items. A high reliance on pre-packaged meals and snacks contributes to this figure.
Canada and Australia: These nations also show a high dietary share of UPFs, aligning with similar Western dietary patterns. In Canada, UPFs account for roughly half of total calories.

Contrasting Consumption Patterns: Europe vs. The US

Not all high-income countries follow the same path. Notable disparities exist within Europe, where some nations demonstrate much lower UPF consumption, often linked to stronger culinary traditions focusing on fresh ingredients.


Country	Approx. Percentage of Adult Diet from UPF	Key Driving Factors
United States	58-60%	Convenience, affordability, heavy advertising, large supermarket availability
United Kingdom	50%+	Reliance on ready meals, convenience, and low-cost packaged snacks
France	~14%	Strong culinary heritage, emphasis on fresh produce, regulation
Italy	~10%	Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, traditional cooking methods

The Drivers of High Consumption

Several interconnected factors explain why certain countries consume more packaged food than others, particularly the ultra-processed varieties:

Convenience and Lifestyle: Rapid urbanization and increasingly busy lifestyles drive demand for ready-to-eat products and snacks. With less time for meal preparation, consumers turn to convenient, shelf-stable options.
Affordability: Ultra-processed foods are often cheaper to produce and purchase than fresh, whole foods. This makes them an attractive option, especially for budget-conscious consumers.
Marketing and Accessibility: Aggressive marketing, especially targeting children, and widespread availability in supermarkets make UPFs hard to avoid. Large retail chains contribute significantly to the proliferation of these products.
Flavor and Palatability: UPFs are engineered with high levels of sugar, salt, and fat to be highly palatable and even addictive, triggering the brain's reward system.

The Health Implications of High Consumption

The high intake of ultra-processed food has been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes. Researchers highlight significant associations with:

Metabolic and cardiovascular diseases: This includes obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, which are often fueled by excessive calories, sugars, and unhealthy fats found in UPFs.
Mental health: Studies show a correlation between high UPF intake and an increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders.
Certain cancers: Research published in The BMJ has found that a diet high in UPFs is associated with a higher risk of developing various cancers.
Early mortality: High consumption has been linked to an increased risk of death from any cause.

Conclusion

While packaged food sales are rising globally, the United States leads among countries with the highest consumption of ultra-processed food as a percentage of total dietary calories. The UK is a close second, whereas other countries, notably in Europe, have much lower figures. The driving forces are complex, encompassing lifestyle, economics, and potent marketing, leading to significant public health concerns related to obesity, chronic disease, and mortality. Addressing this trend requires a multi-pronged approach, including public health policies, consumer education, and food industry reform.

For more information on the health impacts of ultra-processed foods, you can refer to the research published in The BMJ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Processed food is any raw agricultural commodity altered from its original state, such as cutting, drying, or pasteurizing. Ultra-processed food goes further, containing industrial additives like sweeteners, flavorings, and emulsifiers, and typically resembles little of its original ingredients.

No, not all packaged food is unhealthy. Minimally processed foods like frozen fruits, vegetables, and pasteurized milk are often packaged. The concern primarily lies with ultra-processed foods, which are linked to adverse health effects.

High consumption is often tied to factors like busy modern lifestyles demanding convenience, low prices making processed foods more accessible, and strong marketing campaigns promoting these products.

High intake of ultra-processed packaged foods is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and mental health issues.

Yes, research indicates that higher UPF consumption is often found among individuals with lower income levels, as these products are typically more affordable than fresh, whole foods.

While developed regions have high established markets, developing regions such as Asia, the Middle East/Africa, and Latin America are experiencing above-average growth rates in packaged food sales.

Strategies include public health policies to regulate the food industry, consumer education on identifying UPFs, and efforts to make fresh, healthy foods more affordable and accessible.