1226: Should Ultraprocessed Foods Be Off The Menu? episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 30 MIN

1226: Should Ultraprocessed Foods Be Off The Menu?

from Science Friday · host Science Friday

The new dietary guidelines from the USDA call for Americans to “eat real food” and consume less “highly processed” food. But how? By some estimates, ultraprocessed foods make up nearly 60% of the average American adult diet, and they’re all over school lunch menus.Health policy expert Laura Schmidt and nutrition policy researcher Alyssa Moran join Host Flora Lichtman to talk about ultraprocessed foods and our food supply. What might they be doing to our health, and what steps could policymakers take to help Americans eat less of them? Guests:Dr. Laura Schmidt is a professor at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco.Dr. Alyssa Moran is deputy director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at the University of PennsylvaniaTranscripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 4, 2026

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New USDA dietary guidelines tell us to “eat real food.” Should policymakers get highly processed foods out of our stores and school lunches?

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1226: Should Ultraprocessed Foods Be Off The Menu?

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