New study from GoCoCo: even in everyday staple foods, close to 60% products in leading US supermarkets are unhealthy

Ultra-processed food staples dominate mainstream US supermarkets. Americans more than Europeans forced to choose between health and cost.

We set out to find the truth about the health profile in supermarket aisles, in the US and in Europe. Not on the obvious junk food, but on staples, ie, the more basic foods. On circa 10,000 products tested, here’s what we found and our take on how to turn the tide…

GoCoCo’s Laura Guinovart and Bertrand Amaraggi collaborated with behavioural expert Wendy Wood, Jaime Giménez Sánchez and Yolanda Fleta Sánchez from Nutritional Coaching and Andrea de la Garza Puentes to conduct a thorough study on the offer profile of 9,601 staple foods in the US and Europe.

We analyzed staple food products (bread, canned goods, cereals, eggs, milk, vegetables and yogurt) stocked in U.S. supermarket chains (Walmart, Target, and Whole Foods), France (Carrefour), and Spain (Mercadona). Using an algorithm that identifies ultra-processed foods values based on the NOVA and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations guidelines, we identified the UPF prevalence and average number of ultra-processed food markers (cosmetic ingredients/additives). 🧐

Turns out, the majority of staples are ultra-processed foods – 58% to be exact – in US mainstream supermarkets.

Take a breath to digest that… OK, now let’s dive in!

Staples in US supermarket aisles.

The numbers are staggering for mainstream supermarkets staples available in Walmart and Target:
– ultra-processed foods account for 58%
– The ultra-processed foods on offer include on average 3.6 UPF markers: those are cosmetic ingredients/additives, used like make-up, to economically make products more appealing to consumers.

Read the full article here