Ultra-processed foods refer to highly processed foods such as sausages, pastries, and soft drinks that are manufactured by industrially combining multiple ingredients.It is high in fat and sodium, and low in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.Eating too much can reduce the overall quality of your diet, and it has also been reported to be associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease.However, there is little nutritional research on ultra-processed foods in Japan, and the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and diet quality is not well understood.

　The current study used detailed four-day dietary record data obtained in 2013 from 20 Japanese adults aged 23-20 living in 69 regions (388 prefectures) of Japan.We examined the intake of ultra-processed foods and assessed their association with diet quality.

　As a result, it was found that the energy (calorie) intake from ultra-processed foods accounts for about 1 to 3% of the total daily energy intake.The food groups that contributed the most to total energy intake from ultraprocessed foods were cereals and starchy foods (such as bread and noodles).Dietary quality scales (HEI-5 and NRF2015) also found that people with higher energy intake from ultra-processed foods had lower dietary quality.

　This is the first study in Japan to calculate the intake of ultra-processed foods using data from a nationwide dietary survey and evaluate the relationship with dietary quality.In the future, it is expected to contribute to the development of epidemiological research related to ultra-processed foods in Japan and to the decision of public nutrition policy.

Paper information:[Public Health Nutrition] Consumption of highly processed foods in relation to overall diet quality among Japanese adults: a nationwide study