Up to this point, the conversation around ultra-processed food has been about visibility. Food systems became observable, processing became measurable, and behavior became predictable. But visibility alone doesn’t change systems. Discoverability does. In complex environments (like food), information only matters when it can be accessed, compared, and acted on consistently. Raw data doesn’t create accountability. […]
Whenever ultra-processed food is compared to tobacco, the reaction is predictable. That’s an exaggeration, food isn’t cigarettes. Emotionally, that feels true. Structurally, it misses the point. The comparison isn’t about morality or outcomes. It’s about how systems behave once certain conditions are met. Tobacco didn’t become a public crisis because smoking was unhealthy. That was […]
San Francisco UPF Lawsuit #9: “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) In the historic San Francisco lawsuit against Big Food, the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) designation is the ultimate battlefield. To the food giants, GRAS is a legal “shield.” To the City of San Francisco, it is a dangerous “loophole” that has allowed a chemical […]
The recently released US Federal Dietary Guidelines call for fewer ultra-processed foods, but the lack of information around clear UPF definitions create barriers for both policies and individual food choices. Source In the News NIH-Funded Study Reanalysis Reveals Whole-Food Diets Support Higher Food Intake, Lower Caloric Consumption Researchers reanalyzing a tightly controlled NIH clinical trial […]
Ultra-processed foods have shifted from nutrition debate to regulatory battleground. Eighteen U.S. states implemented SNAP restrictions on soda, candy, and sugary products beginning January 2026, positioning ultra-processed foods at the center of a policy war over health equity and food system control. For food brands that once hid behind barcodes and opaque labels, this marks […]
San Francisco UPF Lawsuit #6: Knowledge In the legal world, “knowledge” is the ultimate weapon. To win a massive public nuisance lawsuit – like the one San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu is pursuing against the Ultra-processed Food (UPF) industry – it isn’t enough to prove a product is harmful. You have to prove the […]
According to research, Chronic diseases cost the U.S. $1.1 trillion annually in healthcare spending and lost productivity. We, the people, are subsidizing the food industry with the national health budget. Every dollar saved in food engineering eventually costs the taxpayer $20 in chronic care. Source In the News FDA Compliance Delay: The “Traceability Gap” Widens […]
San Francisco UPF Lawsuit #5: The Under-the-Table Payoff Could the landmark Ultra-processed food (UPF) lawsuit in San Francisco put the world’s wealthiest academic endowment in the crosshairs? Possibly. While the lawsuit focuses on manufacturers, Harvard University’s historical and academic ties to industry deception may move the institution from the sidelines to the center of the […]
The FDA comment period closes January 26, 2026. Will 70-year-old safety standards finally catch up to 21st-century food engineering? Source UPF In the News Virginia Tech Research Links Sugary Sodas to Poor Brain Health Outcomes Over Time Virginia Tech researchers analyzing long-term dietary patterns found that consumption of sugary sodas, a category of ultra-processed beverages, […]
The Bi-Partisan UPF Labeling Bill: Equal Parts Hope for the Consumer and ‘Oh Sh*t’ for the Food Industry Something interesting happened this week, and you could almost feel it ripple through the food industry. A bipartisan bill surfaced that would require warning labels on ultra-processed foods, particularly those marketed to kids. Bipartisan. In 2026. About […]
