Federal agencies are ramping up efforts to address the role of ultra-processed foods in America’s diet-related chronic disease epidemic, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) launching a joint initiative to establish a uniform definition for these products.
Led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., the move comes as concerns mount over the health impacts of ultra-processed foods—estimated to make up 70% of packaged products in the U.S. food supply. Children, particularly, are heavily affected, deriving over 60% of their calories from such items, according to agency data.
The agencies announced a joint Request for Information (RFI) to gather data and insights that will inform the first federally recognized definition of ultra-processed foods. Currently, no authoritative standard exists, hindering transparency for consumers and consistency in research and policy.
“Ultra-processed foods are driving our chronic disease epidemic,” Secretary Kennedy stated. “Defining them with a clear, uniform standard will empower us even more to Make America Healthy Again.” He emphasized the need to address root causes of chronic illness to improve the nation’s food supply.
Secretary Rollins highlighted the initiative as part of broader efforts to boost consumer choice, noting, “A unified, widely understood definition for ultra-processed foods is long overdue.” She pledged to involve the agriculture sector in the process, aligning with the Trump administration’s focus on family health outcomes.
FDA Commissioner Makary called the effort “critical,” citing overwhelming evidence linking ultra-processed foods to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurological disorders. “The threats… are clear and convincing,” he said, stressing the need for interagency collaboration.
The RFI, set to publish in the Federal Register on July 24, will seek input on criteria for defining ultra-processed foods. This step follows the Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment, which identifies overconsumption of these products as a key driver of childhood chronic diseases.
Additionally, the FDA and National Institutes of Health are investing in research through the Nutrition Regulatory Science Program to deepen understanding of ultra-processed foods’ health impacts. Together, these actions aim to curb overconsumption and reduce diet-related illnesses, advancing the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
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