Generation UPF: British teens now get a TWO-THIRDS of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, shocking new data reveals - as diabetes and obesity in under 40s continue to spiral READ MORE: Women who eat UPFs more likely to develop autoimmune disease By Kate Pickles Health Editor For The Daily Mail Published: 02:30, 17 July 2024 | Updated: 03:37, 17 July 2024 e-mail View comments British teenagers are getting two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, according to research. White children and those from deprived backgrounds are consuming the most UPFs, which tend to be mass-produced and are often high in salt, saturated fat and sugar. The study found 11 to 18-year-olds were typically getting 66 per cent of their calories from these foods, leaving little room for more nutritious foods.

Experts said the trend was particularly worrying as these are formative years where habits can become ‘ingrained’. The study by Cambridge and Bristol universities looked at the diets of 3,000 children who took part in in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey between 2008/09 and 2018/19. Your browser does not support iframes.

An easy sign a food could be a UPF is if it contains ingredients you wouldn't find in your kitchen cupboard, such as unrecognisable colourings, sweeteners and preservatives. Another clue is the amount of fat, salt and sugar lurking inside each pack, with UPFs typically containing high amounts Your browser does not support iframes. A MailOn.