New Blueprint Sets a Science-Based Target for Ultra-Processed Foods and Policy
A May 2026 Healthy Eating Research blueprint defines ultra-processed foods by ingredient lists—flagging products with additives not used in home cooking—and reports that over half of American adults’ calories come from UPFs (even more for kids). The panel ranks Tier 1 policies such as targeted taxes on UPFs, school/childcare procurement restrictions, countermarketing, and mandatory front-of-pack labeling, with a focus on equity and alignment with FDA/USDA efforts. UNC data cited show 71% of baby/toddler foods in North Carolina are UPFs, and 72% of U.S. packaged foods analyzed meet the UPF definition. The research links UPF consumption to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and early death, while noting potential processing-related effects on digestion and cravings.
