Operationally Defining and Targeting Ultraprocessed Foods: Insights From US Policy Proposals.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To examine operational ultraprocessed food (UPF) definitions and policy scope in existing US policy proposals. <b>Methods.</b> We conducted a search for federal and state policy proposals targeting UPFs through December 2025. <b>Results.</b> We identified 43 proposals targeting UPFs between 2021 and 2025. Most (93%) hailed from states. About a third (35%) defined UPFs by listing narrow sets of specific food additives. Some provided definitions more closely related to Nova's: 9% referenced classes of additives considered "cosmetic" by Nova, whereas 21% directly referenced or paraphrased Nova but lacked comprehensive lists of targeted ingredients. A final third (35%) did not provide any definition. Most targeted foods served or sold in schools (58%). Others proposed UPF warning labels (12%) and marketing restrictions (5%). <b>Conclusions.</b> Proposals mostly targeted school foods and frequently defined UPFs using narrow lists of additives that lack evidence as reliable UPF indicators. <b>Public Health Implications.</b> Informing policymakers about existing and emerging operational UPF definitions consistent with science-based approaches is urgent. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2026;116(7):1025-1029. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308464).