Federal authorities solicit opinions on establishing a definition for ultra-processed food
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have joined forces to establish a uniform definition for ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a move that could potentially reshape the American food landscape.
According to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Assessment, overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is a significant factor contributing to the childhood chronic disease crisis in the United States. These foods, which include soft drinks, packaged snacks, cakes, cookies, and products with high-fructose corn syrup, are believed to be driving the chronic disease epidemic.
Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has expressed his disdain for ultra-processed foods, stating that they are a major contributor to health issues such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurological disorders.
The joint Request for Information (RFI) issued by the FDA and USDA describes ultra-processed foods as packaged, ready-to-consume products formulated for shelf life and/or palatability that are typically high in added sugars, refined grains, unhealthy fats, and sodium, and low in fiber and essential nutrients. The definition also draws on the NOVA food classification system, characterizing UPFs as industrially manufactured products made up of several ingredients including sugar, oils, fats, salt, and food substances rarely used in culinary preparations such as flavors, colorants, non-sugar sweeteners, and emulsifiers.
The RFI aims to develop a uniform federal definition for UPFs in the U.S. food supply to facilitate consistent research and nutrition policy. The effort is part of the MAHA Commission initiative, which has highlighted links between ultra-processed foods and adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain cancers.
The agencies have not finalized a strict regulatory definition yet but are soliciting data and comments to help do so by September 2025. The focus on ultra-processed food could potentially impact the regulation of school lunch and food-assistance programs.
Some states have already defined ultra-processed foods to include stabilizers, thickeners, coloring or flavoring agents, processed foods like hydrogenated oil, or foods with a certain number of ingredients. The National Restaurant Association is reviewing the RFI to determine whether to provide comment.
In June, a study was launched to measure ultra-processed food consumption by analyzing compounds in blood and urine samples. The public can access the RFI in the Federal Register through Sep. 23.
The MAHA report links the rise of industrialization to the issue of ultra-processed foods, suggesting that the current food system may be contributing to the health crisis. The RFI poses questions about the advantages and challenges of classifying ultra-processed foods, including whether foods containing such ingredients should be labeled and if certain manufacturing processes should be disclosed.
As the FDA and USDA work towards a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, the future of the American diet could be set for a significant shift. The public's health and wellbeing may hang in the balance as the agencies seek to regulate these foods and promote healthier eating habits.
- The restaurant industry, with its focus on ready-to-consume, packaged foods, might experience changes in response to the potential regulation of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) by the FDA and USDA.
- The science community has been actively studying the link between UPFs and various health-and-wellness concerns, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurological disorders.
- The fitness-and-exercise community encourages individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles that prioritize food-and-drink choices rich in fiber and essential nutrients, as opposed to UPFs that are high in added sugars, refined grains, unhealthy fats, and sodium.
- The policy-and-legislation sphere is closely watching the joint efforts of the FDA and USDA as they aim to establish a federal definition for UPFs, which could impact general-news conversations on food-and-drink industry regulations, school lunch programs, and food-assistance policies.
- The nutrition field stands to benefit from the development of a uniform definition for UPFs, as it could facilitate consistent research, aid in the formulation of nutritionally sound policies, and ultimately contribute to a healthier American population through better cooking and eating habits.
