Six in ten say ultra-processed food makers engineer products to be addictive
Core finding
In a March 2026 Verasight survey, a majority of Americans (62%) agree that companies making ultra-processed foods manipulate the ingredients to make them more addictive. Strong agreement accounts for 23%.
Only 8% disagree, including 3% who feel strongly, and three-in-ten (30%) are neutral.
Topline scale
Six in ten say ultra-processed food makers engineer products to be addictive.
Companies who make ultra-processed foods manipulate the ingredients in their products to make them more addictive.
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 3: Elections, Civic Life, & the Environment |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
Companies who make ultra-processed foods manipulate the ingredients in their products to make them more addictive.
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.