In a July 23 press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are accelerating federal efforts to address concerns around ultra-processed foods and diet-related chronic disease. The agencies are issuing a joint Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and data to help establish a federally recognized, uniform definition for ultra-processed foods—which is viewed as a critical step in providing increased transparency to consumers about the U.S. food supply.

At present, there is no single, authoritative definition for ultra-processed foods for the U.S. food supply. Creating a uniform federal definition will serve as a key deliverable on the heels of the Make Our Children Healthy Again (MAHA) Assessment, released in late May, which recognizes that the overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is one of the driving factors of childhood chronic diseases. Helping to address overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is also a key element of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of packaged products in the U.S. food supply are often considered ultra-processed, and that children get over 60 percent of their calories from such foods. Dozens of scientific studies have found links between the consumption of foods often considered ultra-processed with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurological disorders.

According to FDA and USDA, a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods will allow for consistency in research and policy to pave the way for addressing health concerns associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The RFI was published in the federal register on July 25 and seeks information on what factors and criteria should be included in a definition of ultra-processed foods.

Upon the release of the joint RFI announcement, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) said, "Ultra-processed foods are driving our chronic disease epidemic," and "We must act boldly to eliminate the root causes of chronic illness and improve the health of our food supply. Defining ultra-processed foods with a clear, uniform standard will empower us even more to Make America Healthy Again."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated, "President Trump has made it a priority to improve health outcomes for American families and communities. This Request for Information is yet another step in seeking commonsense ways to foster improved and more informed consumer choice… As this process unfolds, I will make certain the great men and women of the agriculture value chain are part of the conversation."

Additionally, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., said, "I am delighted to lead this critical effort at the FDA… The threats posed to our health by foods often considered ultra-processed are clear and convincing, making it imperative that we work in lockstep with our federal partners to advance, for the first time ever, a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods."

Alongside developing a uniform definition for ultra-processed foods, FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are investing in research to help answer remaining questions about the health impacts of ultra-processed foods through their recently announced Nutrition Regulatory Science Program. HHS will also continue to pursue the development and implementation of other key policies and programs that seek to collectively and dramatically reduce chronic disease.