2022/01/13 by Joyce H. Lee, Miranda Duster, Timothy Roberts +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Medicine · #Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling #Nutritional Studies and Diet #Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
paper · pdf · doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.748847
openalex publication_date 2022/01/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
We reviewed data on the American diet from 1800 to 2019. Methods: We examined food availability and estimated consumption data from 1800 to 2019 using historical sources from the federal government and additional public data sources. Results: Processed and ultra-processed foods increased from <5 to >60% of foods. Large increases occurred for sugar, white and whole wheat flour, rice, poultry, eggs, vegetable oils, dairy products, and fresh vegetables. Saturated fats from animal sources declined while polyunsaturated fats from vegetable oils rose. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) rose over the twentieth century in parallel with increased consumption of processed foods, including sugar, refined flour and rice, and vegetable oils. Saturated fats from animal sources were inversely correlated with the prevalence of NCDs. Conclusions: As observed from the food availability data, processed and ultra-processed foods dramatically increased over the past two centuries, especially sugar, white flour, white rice, vegetable oils, and ready-to-eat meals. These changes paralleled the rising incidence of NCDs, while animal fat consumption was inversely correlated.