Episode 47: Federal Action on Ultra-Processed Foods

In this episode, we unpack a major federal push to tackle the diet-related chronic disease crisis in America, with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in the crosshairs. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, working alongside the FDA and NIH, are launching coordinated initiatives to:

• Define “ultra-processed foods” with a uniform federal standard.

• Fund groundbreaking nutrition research through the new Nutrition Regulatory Science Program (NRSP).

• Increase transparency in the food supply and address the root causes of chronic illness.

We explore what this means for public health, the food industry, and the future of nutrition policy in America. From the “Make America Healthy Again” vision to the implications for agriculture, regulation, and research, this is a pivotal moment in U.S. nutrition science.