We speak with Rocco Renaldi, Secretary-General of the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA), about the ongoing debate surrounding UPFs, including limitations of processing-based food classification systems, the importance of processing for safety and nutrition, industry efforts to improve nutritional profiles, and potential implications of UPF policies.
The draft model is intended to help governments identify industrially produced, prepackaged foods for which consumption should be limited or moderated, potentially informing regulatory measures such as marketing restrictions, front-of-package labeling, and taxation. A public consultation is now open.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with the Swedish Food Agency raised questions about the reliability of the “ultra-processed foods” definition for dietary research and nutrition policymaking.
Developed in collaboration with Fed UP!, the Food Policy Accelerator will offer scientific research, food supply data, and legal expertise to support the development of ultra-processed food (UPF) regulations at a time when the U.S. is considering a federal UPF definition.
A new Scoping Paper lays the groundwork for expert European Commission advisory bodies to deliver opinions on the scientific and ethical considerations that should underpin potential EU policies on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Acrylamide is a harmful contaminant that forms during thermal processing. An analysis of 17 years of EU RASFF data showed that UPFs accounted for 85 percent of related notifications. Cereals, baked goods, and potato chips were most frequently implicated.
Modeled after the “USDA Organic” label, AB 2244 would create a voluntary certification program through which qualifying manufacturers could display a “Non-Ultraprocessed Certified” seal on food packaging. Manufacturers could apply to accredited certification agents for authorization to use the seal.
Federally defining UPFs could allow U.S. regulatory agencies to pursue specific policies for the category. The importance of processing versus nutrient content and formulation in causing diet-related chronic diseases, as well as the value of defining UPFs, has been heavily debated.
Two topics of increasing regulatory scrutiny—the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule and a federal definition of ultra-processed food (UPFs)—have seen some movement at the U.S. Government's Office of Management and Budget, signaling progress on the Trump administration's food policy agenda.
The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2025 would require health warning labels for certain foods and beverages, prohibit marketing of specified products to children, and expand federal nutrition research and education related to ultra-processed foods.
