Federal Ultra-Processed Food Definition: Where It Stands

The United States is still working toward its first federal definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a move that could reshape labels, school meals and product recipes. The most recent official step I could find came in August, when federal agencies sent a proposed definition for final review without publishing it.

On 11 August 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced two food-policy actions. The FDA proposed a rule that would require food makers to notify the agency whenever they decide a substance is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). In the same announcement, HHS and the US Department of Agriculture said they had submitted the first proposed federal definition of UPFs for final review.

The agencies did not release the text or say which foods would be covered. HHS said the definition draws on feedback from thousands of stakeholders, including industry, consumer groups and researchers. I did not find a published definition in my search, so it is unclear whether it has been released since.

There is currently no standard federal definition, which HHS says limits consistent research on how these foods affect health. An FDA estimate cited in food-policy coverage suggests about 70% of the US food supply could be considered ultra-processed, though the figure depends on how the term is defined.

In June, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the definition was awaiting White House approval and could support a new approach to front-of-pack nutrition labels, including a traffic-light style system. Whether that happens depends on future rulemaking.

GRAS lets companies decide for themselves that an ingredient is safe without notifying the FDA. The proposed rule would end that gap by requiring notification. Officials describe it as a transparency measure, and it is a proposal, not final law. Industry and the public can respond during the comment process.

Related efforts are targeting petroleum-based synthetic dyes. HHS has encouraged companies to phase out several colours, including Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, and Blue 1 and 2, by the end of 2026. The programme is voluntary. The FDA has published an industry tracker listing company pledges, and retailers such as Target have accelerated commitments to remove synthetic dyes from cereals, according to a law-firm analysis.

States are moving too. California has created the first statutory definition of ultra-processed foods and become the first state to ban certain UPFs in schools, according to a Texas A&M policy summary.

For manufacturers, a federal definition could force reformulation, new labelling and tighter ingredient documentation. For shoppers, labels may eventually make it easier to spot heavily processed products. Critics and food scientists have argued that the term needs a precise definition before it is tied to health outcomes, since processing covers a very wide range of foods.

Status is based on reports through August 2026. Check HHS and FDA announcements for the latest.