Harvard, UNC Launch Ultra-Processed Food Policy Hub
The Food Policy Accelerator will give government agencies and advocacy groups technical and legal support as federal and state regulators define ultra-processed foods.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Nutrition
Live Poll
Should the federal government regulate ultra-processed foods in what Americans buy and eat?
UNC and Harvard launched the Food Policy Accelerator, developed with Fed UP!, to inform ultra-processed food policymaking. The initiative will offer technical assistance to federal, state, and local agencies, legislative offices, nonprofits, and advocacy groups.
Why it matters
Federal and state efforts to define and regulate ultra-processed foods are underway, and developing effective rules requires navigating complex legal and scientific questions. In August 2026, FDA and USDA submitted a proposed federal definition to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review.
The evidence is an institutional program launch and a federal regulatory submission, with no quantitative outcome figures reported. A July 2025 FDA-USDA Request for Information drew mixed responses, and the final federal definition remains pending at OMB with no publication timeline confirmed.
The players
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A public research university whose schools of public health and law are involved in the new accelerator's nutrition science and legal analysis work.
Harvard University
A private Ivy League research university that co-launched the Food Policy Accelerator with UNC to support ultra-processed food policymaking.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The federal agency responsible for food safety and labeling that, with USDA, submitted the proposed federal ultra-processed food definition.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The federal department that oversees agriculture and nutrition programs and co-submitted the proposed ultra-processed food definition with the FDA.
The details
The Food Policy Accelerator will combine nutrition science with legal and policy analysis, conducting food supply analysis, nutrition profiling, and legal research. It will also develop fact sheets, issue briefs, and expert testimony, and evaluate which products would be affected by proposed rules and how regulations could affect availability, affordability, and purchasing patterns.
Timeline
July 2025: FDA and USDA issued a Request for Information on ultra-processed foods.
August 2026: FDA and USDA submitted a proposed federal UPF definition to OMB for final review.
November 2, 2026: UNC and Harvard launched the Food Policy Accelerator.
Big Picture
The proposed federal definition submitted to OMB in August 2026 is the next step after the July 2025 FDA-USDA Request for Information, which drew mixed responses. California's separate bill creating a "not-ultra-processed" certification seal shows states pursuing parallel approaches to the same question.
If the proposed federal definition is finalized, it could shape which packaged foods are labeled or regulated as ultra-processed. California's "not-ultra-processed" certification seal bill signals that shoppers in that state may soon see new labeling on grocery products.
The takeaway
Check product labels and ingredient lists as federal and state ultra-processed food definitions take shape. Understanding how a food is processed can help you make more informed choices while policy is still being written.
Further reading
For broader context on how federal rules are shaping diets, explore more Nutrition coverage.
Live Poll
Should the federal government regulate ultra-processed foods in what Americans buy and eat?
