Exciting News in the Food Industry:
- A leading nutrition nonprofit has introduced the first-ever certification in the United States for food companies to showcase their products as non-ultraprocessed.
- The Non-UPF Program, which was unveiled at the end of 2024, announced on Thursday that it has expanded its “Non-UPF” certification label to encompass the entire food industry. This label is designated for foods that are free from excessive processing, artificial additives, and other potentially harmful ingredients.
- Other nonprofits have also joined the movement by introducing their own labels as more consumers express concerns about processed foods. For instance, the group behind the Non-GMO Project recently launched a “Non-UPF Verified” label on a trial basis earlier this year.
Insight into the Non-UPF Program:
With a growing aversion to ultraprocessed foods among consumers, there is often confusion about which foods fall into this category.
Melissa Halas, the founder of the Non-UPF Program, stated, “Our objective is to help Americans navigate the complexities of food labeling and offer clear guidance on less processed foods. By introducing a trustworthy certification mark, consumers can make informed choices and support brands that are dedicated to reducing UPF in the market.”
Research from the Food Integrity Collective, which oversees the Non-GMO and Non-UPF labels, reveals that seven out of 10 U.S. shoppers are actively trying to steer clear of ultraprocessed foods. However, only 37% of them consider themselves highly knowledgeable about ultraprocessing in food.
A certification label could serve as a valuable tool in bridging this knowledge gap and guiding consumers toward healthier food options. Yet, in the absence of a formal definition for ultraprocessed foods, there is a possibility of further confusion arising from labels that rely on varying metrics.
The Non-UPF Program’s label is based on the Nova Classification System for ultraprocessed foods, which categorizes foods into four groups based on their processing level. According to Nova, ultraprocessed foods are industrialized products like mass-produced bread or packaged desserts that contain additives and ingredients not typically used in culinary preparation.
Defining ultraprocessed foods has been a challenge for governing bodies and scientists, with debates over whether these foods are inherently less healthy than minimally processed options. For instance, yogurt and protein bars, while considered ultraprocessed, can still offer valuable nutritional benefits.
The FDA and other entities are working towards establishing a formal definition for ultraprocessed foods. Recently, California implemented its own definition as part of a ban on ultraprocessed foods in schools.