Brian Sylvester spoke with Food Navigator about the FDA and USDA’s effort to establish a federal definition for ultra-processed foods (UPFs), explaining that the debate centers on competing frameworks based on processing, ingredients, nutrition, or a combination of the three. He noted that an objective, science-based definition is essential to provide consistency for regulators, industry, researchers and consumers while reducing the risk of fragmented state requirements. Brian explained, “As FDA and USDA recognized in their 2025 Request for Information, there is no single accepted framework for defining ultra-processed foods.”
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