U.S. Comfort Foods Predominantly Hyperpalatable and Processed, Study Reveals
A recent study on U.S. comfort foods indicates that nearly three-quarters of these popular choices meet the criteria for being hyperpalatable, meaning they are highly appealing due to specific combinations of fat, sugar, and salt. The study, which analyzed 300 distinct foods grouped into 132 broader categories, found that the nutritional profile of these foods leaned heavily towards processed options. Chips, ice cream, pizza, chocolate, and cookies topped the list of preferred comfort foods. The average serving contained 223 calories, with 39% from fat and 18% from sugar, and most were low in fiber. Ultra-processing was also common, with an average of 57% of calories coming from Nova Group 4 sources, and 43% of foods qualifying as fully ultra-processed.