Nutrition experts urge White House to release ultra-processed food definition before midterms

More than 80 nutrition researchers and experts have signed a petition urging the White House to make public the federal government’s proposed definition of ultra-processed foods. The group says the definition, first prepared for an August announcement, was withdrawn after pressure from large food companies.

The Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, directed by cardiologist Dariush Mozaffarian, plans to meet with the Office of Management and Budget on Friday to present the petition and request the release.

The Department of Health and Human Services has indicated it wants the definition issued before the upcoming midterm elections, framing it as a win for the Make America Healthy Again initiative.

Advocates hope that publishing the definition will give policymakers and consumers clearer guidance on the health impacts of highly processed foods.