Supriya Pandey and Dr. M. Santoshi Lakshmi
A descriptive cross-sectional study assessed cereal-based ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and its association with self-reported gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among 100 young adults aged 18–30 years. Cereal-based UPFs, including packaged biscuits, instant noodles, breakfast cereals, and packaged breads, are widely consumed due to their convenience and availability. Their high content of refined carbohydrates, sugars, fats, sodium, and additives, along with low dietary fibre, may contribute to GI discomfort. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and completed a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, cereal-based UPF intake during the previous month, GI symptoms during the previous three months, and food-label awareness. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The majority of participants reported moderate cereal-based UPF consumption (78%), while 13% had high consumption and 9% had low consumption. Packaged biscuits/cookies, namkeen, instant noodles/pasta, packaged breads/buns, and breakfast cereals were the most commonly consumed products. Most GI symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, acidity, constipation, and diarrhoea, were reported as absent or occasional. No statistically significant association was observed between cereal-based UPF consumption and GI symptom category (χ² = 1.175, p = 0.556). Monthly family income was also not significantly associated with UPF consumption (χ² = 1.933, p = 0.748) or GI symptoms (χ² = 7.454, p = 0.059). The findings indicate that cereal-based UPFs were commonly consumed at moderate levels among young adults; however, no significant association with self-reported GI symptoms was observed in the present sample. Further studies should include larger and more diverse samples, along with validated dietary assessment tools, to better understand this relationship.