Despite growing interest in ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), there is not consensus on how to define UPFs for policy purposes. To meet this need, Healthy Eating Research convened an expert panel to develop evidence-informed recommendations for policymakers and advocates interested in advancing policies to limit UPF exposure and consumption at the local, state, and federal levels. The panel assessed evidence to 1) recommend a definition of UPF suitable for guiding policy development and 2) identify policy options to reduce exposure and consumption of UPFs in the U.S.

Technical Report

This report presents an evidence-informed recommended definition of UPFs, addresses key considerations for implementing this definition, and recommends policy options to limit exposure to and consumption of UPFs. The technical report contains the full review of evidence and methodology used to develop the recommendations.

Executive Summary

This summary presents the expert panel’s recommendations.

One-Pager

This one-page summary presents a brief overview of the recommended definition for policy.

Webinar Recording

This webinar presents findings from the HER Expert Panel report. Speakers discuss recommended definitions of ultraprocessed foods, methods to operationalize the definitions for policy purposes, and practical policies to reduce widespread availability and consumption of UPFs. The webinar is moderated by Megan Lott, MPH, RDN and features presentations from the two co-chairs of the Expert Panel, Jim Krieger, MD, MPH and Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, MPH, followed by Q&A with attendees.