(OR15-01-24) How US Young Adults Understand and Conceptualize Ultra-Processed Foods

Objectives: To explore how US young adults define and identify ultra-processed foods (UPF) and their ability to differentiate between UPF and non-UPF foods.

Methods: Data were analyzed from an ongoing mixed-methods survey of adults (18-39y) living in the US for > 1 year. Respondents were asked to define UPF in their own words, look at images of 24 foods with front and back of package information to decide if foods were UPF or not, rate their nutritional quality (NQ) on a scale of 1-10, rate their confidence in assigning foods as UPF or not on a 6-point Likert scale, and to answer demographic questions. Foods were diverse in processing level according to the NOVA system and in NQ. There was a high NQ non-UPF, low NQ non-UPF, high NQ UPF, and low NQ UPF item in each of 6 food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, protein, and snacks/sweets. Concepts used to define UPF were identified and reported as the number of respondents who mentioned them. Confidence was grouped in three levels: low (1-2), moderate (3-4), and high (5-6). Descriptive statistics were reported as mean (SD) for continuous and frequency (percentage) for categorical variables. A score of correct answers out of 24 was calculated for foods, differences in score by confidence level, race, and gender were examined using ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc followup.

Results: The sample was 105 adults, mean age 29.3±6.6 years, and predominately white (88%), female (70%) and from the Northeast (74%). Over 40 concepts were identified to define UPF. Those mentioned most were presence/addition of chemicals or additives (n=28), food being altered from its natural/whole form (n=21), use of preservatives (n=13), use of non-natural ingredients (n=12), and foods made to have an extended or long shelf life (n=11). The mean number of UPF or non-UPF foods correctly identified was 16.2±2.8 (67.5%) foods. Respondents were moderately confident in identifying UPF, with 56.4% reporting moderate, 28% low, and 16% high confidence. Associations were observed between confidence and score (F=4.7, p=0.0112) and gender and score (F=3.42, p=0.0367), with high confidence and female gender associated with higher scores.

Conclusions: These results suggest limited consensus as to how young adults define UPF. Studies in more diverse populations are needed, but consumers may benefit from a clear definition of UPF.

Funding Sources: Funded by USDA, NIFA accession: 1030579