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Companies join trial program to evaluate badge for foods deemed non-heavily processed

Food and beverage brands join The Non-GMO Project's pilot program, aiming to establish uniform non-UPF labeling standards for products. Approximately 16 brands are involved in this initiative.

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Sixteen businesses participating in an initial initiative to trial a certification label for foods...
Sixteen businesses participating in an initial initiative to trial a certification label for foods that are not ultraprocessed products

Companies join trial program to evaluate badge for foods deemed non-heavily processed

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently working on defining Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs), a task that has been prompted by a citizen petition from the agency's former commissioner, David Kessler. The petition calls for the revocation of the food safety status of certain UPFs, citing concerns about their health implications.

In a move towards transparency and consumer choice, the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organisation, has launched a pilot programme to develop a standard for non-UPF labels on food and drink products. This initiative, known as the Non-UPF Verified pilot, was introduced in January under the Food Integrity Collective.

The pilot programme involves four technical administrators who are drafting an initial version of the label. Notable brands participating in this programme include Amy's Kitchen, Califia Farms, and Simple Mills, with over 200 brands expressing interest in the Non-UPF Verified certification.

The Non-GMO Project is consulting with global partners to ensure the UPF-targeting standard meets both rigorous scientific criteria and practical industry implementation requirements. The pilot group for the Non-UPF Verified standard covers various categories, including meat, dairy, snacks, and household names.

The Non-UPF Verified pilot is gathering insights from brands about the types of equipment and processes used to classify what's permissible, what can be used conditionally, and what would be classified as minimally or moderately processed. Megan Westgate, founder and CEO of the Non-GMO Project, argues that consumers deserve the same level of transparency and choice about ultraprocessed ingredients as they have for genetically engineered ones.

Jon Silverman, senior VP of innovation and business development at Sprindrift, supports the Non-UPF Verified label as a tool for beverage consumers to identify the level of processing during manufacturing. This could be particularly beneficial given the rising concern about the high consumption of UPFs, with Americans now getting 55% of their calories from such foods.

The Non-UPF Verified pilot is currently accepting companies on a waitlist to use the Non-UPF Verified label on their product packaging. The launch of this pilot comes at a time when big food companies are facing a lawsuit for using the tobacco playbook to market UPFs to kids, and the state of California is considering a ban on certain UPFs.

In the face of growing consumer awareness and regulatory scrutiny, the Non-GMO Project is looking to lead the food industry's response to UPFs with an on-pack verification label that highlights a product's non-UPF status. This could mark a significant step forward in promoting healthier food choices and empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their diet.

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