U.S. struggles to define ‘ultraprocessed foods’ as Kennedy pushes crackdown

[Eating An Unhealthy Diet]
wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images

Federal officials are still debating how to define ultraprocessed foods, a key issue in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and one with major consequences for the food industry, the New York Times reported Sunday.

Kennedy recently told Congress that regulators were advancing a definition through federal agencies, but officials say discussions remain unsettled and no final framework has been agreed upon.

The stakes are high because a broad definition could classify a large share of packaged foods sold in the U.S. as ultraprocessed. Under one widely used scientific model known as Nova, products containing additives or ingredients uncommon in home kitchens often fall into that category. That can include soda and snack cakes, but also some breads, yogurts and peanut butters.

Food manufacturers are lobbying against an expansive standard, arguing it could unfairly group nutritious items with junk food, raise costs and threaten participation in school meal programs. Companies also fear warning labels or restrictions tied to food stamps and other federal programs.

Health advocates and many nutrition researchers support a tougher definition, citing growing evidence linking heavy consumption of ultraprocessed foods to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Several states are already moving ahead without Washington. Texas and Louisiana passed labeling laws tied to certain additives, while California has barred some ultraprocessed foods from school lunches.

Some experts propose a middle ground: adopt a strong federal definition while exempting products that meet existing nutritional standards for “healthy” foods. That approach could pressure manufacturers to reformulate products rather than simply ban them.

For now, regulators are stuck on a deceptively simple question with billion-dollar implications: what exactly counts as ultraprocessed?

MORE ON KRAFT HEINZ, GENERAL MILLS, ETC.

* Unilever PLC (UL) Q1 2026 Sales/Trading Call Transcript [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4896458-unilever-plc-ul-q1-2026-sales-trading-call-transcript]
* Pilgrim's Pride Corporation 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4897227-pilgrims-pride-corporation-2026-q1-results-earnings-call-presentation]
* The Hershey Company (HSY) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4897040-the-hershey-company-hsy-q1-2026-earnings-call-prepared-remarks-transcript]
* Earnings scoreboard: 11 of 12 consumer staple names beat earnings estimates this week [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4583642-earnings-scoreboard-11-of-12-consumer-staple-names-beat-earnings-estimates-this-week]
* Earnings Scoreboard: 82% of S&P 500 reporting firms top EPS estimates as 78% of firms post Y/Y earnings growth [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4583624-earnings-scoreboard-82-of-sp-500-reporting-firms-top-eps-estimates-as-78-of-firms-post-yy-earnings-growth]