More than 100 science, medical, and nutrition experts have signed and sent an open letter to the Office of Management and Budget, urging the administration to release the first-ever government definition of ultraprocessed foods. The push comes amid significant delays in federal efforts to tackle the health risks associated with such products, a foundational pillar of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health agenda.
“It is critical that special interests not hold up this process,” the letter stated, noting that while most Americans wish to avoid ultraprocessed foods, deeper familiarity with them remains limited and signals a clear need for federal guidance.
The administration first announced its initiative to define ultraprocessed foods in July 2025. However, food company CEOs reportedly intervened in the release of the definition. Adding to the policy pressure, Calley Means, a senior adviser to Kennedy and a prominent ally of the administration’s health agenda, resigned. Although Means cited tremendous respect for leadership, reports indicated that the stalled ultraprocessed food definition served as a breaking point.
Since taking office, Kennedy has linked the overconsumption of ultraprocessed foods to childhood obesity, asserting that the nation cannot reverse its chronic disease epidemic without transforming the food system. In August, the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted a proposed definition for final review, covering products ranging from sugary cereals and sodas to burgers and store-bought breads.
Ultraprocessed foods account for more than 70 percent of the packaged food supply in the U.S., according to research. While cheap, convenient, and readily available, numerous studies have linked them to adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Roughly three-quarters of infant and toddler foods are considered ultraprocessed, according to a February study published in Nutrients.
Experts explain that the term “ultraprocessed foods” originates from the NOVA classification system, proposed in 2009 by researchers in Brazil to categorize foods based on industrial processing. Under this framework, ultraprocessed foods undergo extensive industrial manipulation, breaking down and reassembling ingredients using cosmetic additives, colors, flavors, and emulsifiers to enhance palatability.
To bridge the scientific definition into regulatory impact, a panel of experts under Healthy Eating Research recommended a two-part framework in June. A product would be classified as ultraprocessed if it contains at least one ingredient falling under the NOVA category, such as a cosmetic additive or ingredients not typically found in a home kitchen. However, exemptions would apply if foods meet the FDA definition of “healthy,” meaning they contain adequate amounts of recommended food groups while keeping added sugar, salt, and saturated fat below recommended levels.
Establishing a clear federal definition could empower the USDA to alter meals in schools, the military, hospitals, and other agency programs. A 2025 study found that school children and toddlers obtain between 47 percent and 59 percent of their calories from ultraprocessed foods. Experts suggest that reducing these foods in schools can improve children’s diets and establish healthier habits for adolescence and adulthood.
Beyond institutional meals, experts advocate for front-of-package nutrition labels to help consumers navigate grocery store selections and incentivize manufacturers to reformulate products. Countries such as Chile and Mexico have already incorporated similar packaging policies, which researchers found led to significant decreases in ultraprocessed food consumption. Domestically, California became the first state to remove ultraprocessed foods from school lunches, and the U.S. Senate introduced a bipartisan bill to mandate warning labels and limit junk food marketing to children.
The public comment period for the government’s proposed definition closed on Friday, and a planned meeting between administration officials, Kennedy, and Means was postponed. Until a federal definition is finalized, consumers continue to navigate grocery aisles independently.
