Overview

• The FDA and USDA issued a July request for information to craft a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, while HHS’s Make America Healthy Again recommendations have been delayed after White House preview meetings with stakeholders.
• A recent CDC report finds Americans get more than half of their diets from ultra-processed foods, with sandwiches listed as a leading category.
• New studies continue to link higher intake to adverse outcomes, including a University College London finding that such foods can slow weight loss, though much of the evidence remains observational.
• Experts struggle to apply the NOVA system consistently, and major health bodies note that some items classified as ultra-processed, such as whole-grain breads and low-sugar yogurts, can be nutritionally beneficial.
• Public-facing guidance highlights reading labels for additives not typically used at home and favors practical swaps to reduce, rather than fully eliminate, ultra-processed foods.