Americans Unite: 75% Want Warning Labels on Junk Food

In a deeply divided country, Americans have found surprising common ground: they want healthier food and they want the government to help make it happen.

A groundbreaking survey of 2,000 U.S. adults published in the American Journal of Public Health found that the overwhelming majority of voters across all political parties agree that ultra-processed foods are addictive and contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Even more remarkable, majorities in all parties support sweeping government interventions to protect public health.

The policies Americans want include testing food additives for safety before companies can use them, banning artificial dyes from foods, requiring warning labels on ultra-processed products, and ordering companies to reduce sugar and salt levels. States have already started taking action, with 22 passing bills to crack down on these foods.

"In this polarized era where Americans disagree on so much, this is actually something where we're seeing a lot of agreement and public support," said Lindsey Smith Taillie, a nutrition epidemiologist at UNC Gillings School of Public Health. She believes this consensus should push lawmakers to act.

The special journal issue features 17 articles examining how ultra-processed foods have taken over American diets. One study uncovered how tobacco giant Philip Morris used cigarette-making techniques to create more addictive Lunchables in the 1980s and 1990s. Another found a possible link between ultra-processed food consumption and dementia in older adults.

Experts say the federal government isn't doing enough despite public support. They're calling for bold action: redirecting corn subsidies to fruit and vegetable farmers, helping low-income families access fresh produce, and supporting local agriculture.

The Ripple Effect

When states restrict ultra-processed foods in school lunches or require clearer labeling, children learn healthier eating habits that last a lifetime. Farmers growing fresh produce gain new markets and stability. Communities see lower rates of preventable diseases, reducing healthcare costs for everyone.

The researchers suggest 22 states that stopped allowing people to buy soda and candy with food assistance could redirect those resources to subsidize local farmers instead. This would make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable and accessible for the families who need them most.

Duke University obesity expert Kelly Brownell points to state and local governments as crucial players in protecting public health when federal action stalls. Cities and counties can pass their own regulations to give residents healthier options.

Food politics scholar Marion Nestle summed up the researchers' message to policymakers in two words: "Do policy!" Advocates have spent decades pushing for changes like removing artificial dyes and certain additives from foods.

The science is clear, public support is strong, and solutions exist to make America's food supply healthier for everyone.