Research

Adherence

Sensory-related industrial additives (SRIAs) in ultra-processed foods increase the risk of obesity-related conditions by enhancing sensory qualities that encourage overconsumption, independent of conscious palatability ratings.

To reduce the risk of overconsumption linked to ultra-processed foods, prioritize whole foods and minimize intake of products containing sensory-related industrial additives (SRIAs). These additives, found in 64.9% of US packaged foods (especially sweets, beverages, and ready-to-eat meals), are designed to enhance taste, texture, and appearance, which can bypass natural satiety signals and drive overeating. Check ingredient lists for terms like 'modified starch,' 'artificial flavor,' 'colors,' and 'sweeteners' as indicators of high SRIA content.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
SRIAs are a defining feature of UPFs and may encourage overconsumption by enhancing the sensory quality of foods.
Marilyn Tseng et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2022

Why this rating

The paper itself is an observational analysis of ingredient lists; it cites experimental evidence (Hall et al.) for the mechanism but does not provide new experimental data on health outcomes.

Source

Sensory-Related Industrial Additives in the US Packaged Food Supply

Marilyn Tseng et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2022

DOI 10.3389/fnut.2021.762814

cross_sectional · n=241688Cited 19×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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