The Mediterranean diet has long been considered as one of the healthiest diets in the world — but new research suggests that Italians may be moving away from their traditional diet.

A recent study assessed Italian diets through two key measures of nutrition and sustainability — the AIDGI and WISH2.0 indices — and found that overall diet quality sits at just 50% of the ideal. While older people, particularly women, continue to maintain relatively healthy eating habits, the diets of younger generations are deteriorating.

The main factor driving this change is the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Although these foods account for only 6% of the total food weight, they now represent nearly a quarter of total calories — almost double the amount 15 years ago.

Researchers warn that current dietary recommendations do not distinguish between fresh foods and ultra-processed foods, which could mask a silent change in eating habits.

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