A growing number of New York City mothers are voicing outrage over the prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children’s diets, citing alarming health consequences and difficulties in finding safe, nutritious options. Tara Ferrara and Carissa Serralta, both mothers of children with chronic health conditions, describe the uphill battle of maintaining clean diets amid a food landscape saturated with UPFs—heavily processed products filled with additives, sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. These foods make up nearly 70% of calories in American kids’ diets and have been linked to behavioral disorders, metabolic issues, and even cancer.
Ferrara’s daughter experiences debilitating side effects from certain additives like maltodextrin, while Serralta’s daughter Mila, diagnosed with MCAD deficiency, cannot metabolize seed oils, which are pervasive in processed foods. The new Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) White House report warns of the health risks associated with UPFs and calls for more transparency, emphasizing that processing methods impact satiety, gut health, and disease risk.
Both mothers argue that healthy food access must be improved for all families regardless of income, highlighting the need for systemic changes in American food policies and availability.