In the News
Childhood Diabetes Bill Targets UPF Labels
The bipartisan Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act would require front-of-pack warning labels on ultra-processed foods and other products high in saturated fat, sugar, or salt, and urge experts to formally define UPFs. Source
Daily Insight
States Aren’t Waiting Anymore
“This unprecedented state action reflects growing concern about the gaps in the federal regulatory system for food ingredients.” – Emily Broad Leib, Director, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic Source
Legal Update
FDA’s Coming UPF Definition as a Design Constraint
Legal commentators expect FDA to advance a formal UPF definition in 2026, following prior information gathering and interagency work with USDA, with that definition serving as a foundation for future front-of-pack labeling and ingredient-transparency measures.
This resembles the long road from early tobacco surgeon general warnings to the later, more explicit packaging changes that reshaped the industry. Companies that wait for the final rule risk discovering that large portions of their portfolios are suddenly out of step with both regulators and consumers. In contrast, organizations building internal UPF frameworks now, such as WISEcode’s multi-dimensional approach to ingredients, additives, and processing intent, enjoy a head start in both compliance, trust, and competitive advantage. Source