US public backs stricter regulation of ultra‑processed foods

A nationally representative survey of 2,000 American adults found broad bipartisan concern over ultra‑processed foods. More than 60% view these products as addictive and major contributors to obesity, type‑2 diabetes and heart disease, while roughly 70% consider them a public‑health threat. Respondents expressed strong support for government action: over 80% favored mandatory safety testing of synthetic additives, 77% wanted large warning labels on packaging, and 64% backed restrictions on marketing to children. The findings, reported by Cornell University researchers and published in a special edition of the American Journal of Public Health, highlight unprecedented consensus among Democrats, Republicans and independents. The study also notes growing consumer demand for transparency, with many citing the Make America Healthy Again campaign and the FedUp! educational effort as influences on their attitudes.