Visualizing Ultra-Processed Food Consumption by Country

By Dorothy Neufeld – Visual Capitalist

Ultra-processed foods like chips, candy, and french fries are designed to be irresistible.

Their high-calorie mix of refined carbs, fats, salt, and sugar—rarely found in nature—triggers cravings and overeating. One study shows that people consuming ultra-processed diets eat an extra 1,000 calories per day compared to those on minimally processed diets. In particular, “hyperpalatable” foods like french fries strongly activate the brain’s reward system, making them especially addictive.

This graphic shows the share of ultra-processed food in adults’ diets across select countries, based on data from the British Medical Journal via BBC.