Portion Sizes of Ultra-Processed Foods in the United States, 2002 to 2021.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To assess the US food industry's response to calls from public health authorities to reduce portion sizes by comparing current with past sizes of selected examples of single-serve ultra-processed packaged and fast foods. <b>Methods.</b> We obtained manufacturers' information about current portion sizes and compared it with sizes when first introduced and in 2002. <b>Results.</b> Few companies in our sample reduced portion sizes since 2002; all still sold portions of ultra-processed foods in up to 5-times-larger sizes than when first introduced. <b>Conclusions.</b> Policies and practices focused on reducing portion size could help discourage the consumption of excessive amounts of ultra-processed foods. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2021;111(12):2223-2226. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306513).