In July 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a joint Request for Information seeking data to develop a “uniform definition” of ultra-processed foods. The agencies said a uniform definition would allow for consistency in research and policy and “pave the way for addressing health concerns associated with the consumption of UPFs.” The comment period closed on Oct. 23, 2025, and drew more than 5,000 comments.
On Aug. 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA announced that they had submitted a proposed UPF definition to OMB for final review. As of Oct. 13, 2026, the text had not been released. The agencies have described it as a “white paper,” rather than a regulation, consistent with earlier statements that the definition would be introduced as a research tool rather than through formal rulemaking. HHS has described the goal as creating “a stronger foundation for future nutrition research.”
OMB’s public calendar lists a series of meetings under Executive Order 12866 concerning the “White Paper: Proposed Definition of Ultra-Processed Food” through September and into October 2026. These meetings are one of the last formal opportunities to put data and perspective in front of decision-makers before the definition is published. Once published, attention will likely shift to how agencies, legislatures, and other policymakers incorporate the definition into nutrition programs, procurement requirements, labeling frameworks, and other policy initiatives.