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MAHA report on children’s health highlights harms of ultraprocessed foods – a food scientist explains the research

The Conversation
Summary
Nutrition label

85% Informative

The White House released a new report highlighting what it claims are the causes of chronic disease in children.

Nearly 70% of children's diets and 50% of pregnant and postpartum women’s diets in the U.S. consist of ultraprocessed foods.

Paul Dawson , a food scientist at Clemson University , explains how the report squares with the science.

The report echoes the guidelines published by the Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services .

For decades , U.S. agricultural subsidies, food policy and consumers have supported mass production and consumption of ultraprocessed foods.

Reversing their overconsumption will require structural shifts in how food is produced, distributed and consumed in the United States , Dawson says.

VR Score

84

Informative language

82

Neutral language

46

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

64

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

External references

37

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