Latest from Food Politics: Ultra-processed food defined: not all that complicated

Secretary Kennedy promised to define ultra-processed foods by April (after a call for input), but then said it may be too complicated to define these foods for policy purposes. Apparently not. Healthy Eating Research convened an expert panel. It made ...

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By Marion Nestle May 14 2026 Ultra-processed food defined: not all that complicated Secretary Kennedy promised to define ultra-processed foods by April (after a call for input), but then said it may be too complicated to define these foods for policy purposes. Apparently not. Healthy Eating Research convened an expert panel. It made three recommendations: I.  Definition A food product is ultra-processed if it contains at least one Cosmetic additive Examples: flavors (natural or artificial), emulsifiers, sweeteners (both sugar and non-sugar), colors (natural or artificial), thickeners, bulking agents, gelling agents, glazing agents, carbonating agents, anti-foaming agents, and other additives recognized by FDA or Codex technical classifications. And/or Non-culinary ingredient Examples: casein, dextrose, high-fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, modified starch, protein isolates (e.g., soy or whey), hydrogenated or interesterified oils, mechanically separated meats, lactose, lecithin, and others. II.  Exempt ingredients Some ingredients do not mark foods as ultra-processed: Vitamins Minerals Herbs Spices Yeast-derived ingredients III.  Exempt foods Foods that meet the FDA’s definition for “Healthy” claims are not considered ultra-processed.  These contain: Adequate amounts of recommended food groups Less than FDA thresholds for added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat No non-sugar sweeteners Using this definition, the panel recommended a broad range of policies to deal with ultra-processed foods.  These are worth a look and further discussion.  See: Executive Summary Technical Report Partner Toolkit FDA: take note.  This ought to work.  Now you can get started on some policy actions! The post Ultra-processed food defined: not all that complicated appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Coming soon to a supermarket near you: Non ultra-processed! USDA school food rules allow plenty of ultra-processed snacks Weekend reading: the debate about ultra-processed foods   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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