Characterizing Food Industry Affiliations Among Critics of the Nova Food Classification System: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To evaluate the extent and nature of food-industry relationships among authors who published academic work between 2009 and 2025 criticizing the Nova food classification system or promoting the benefits of ultraprocessed foods, building on evidence that some Nova critiques stem from industry-linked actors. <b>Methods.</b> This preregistered review (PROSPERO CRD42024539022) characterized each author's disclosed and nondisclosed (uncovered by public online source) food industry relationships. <b>Results.</b> Of 69 included articles, 91.3% involved at least 1 industry-affiliated author, 68.5% of 232 total authors had food industry ties, and 65.2% of articles were published in journals associated with nutrition societies with disclosed industry partnerships. Arguments defending or promoting ultraprocessed foods appeared in 39.7% of articles with direct industry ties and 60.0% with organizational or governmental industry ties, compared with 16.7% of articles with no identified ties. <b>Conclusions.</b> Given the tobacco industry's well-documented strategy of manufacturing academic doubt about its products' harms, these findings raise concern that the food industry may be following a similar playbook as evidence for the health risks of ultraprocessed foods continues to grow. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. Published online ahead of print September 17, 2026:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308691).