Are "Ultra-Processed Products" the New Name for UPFs?

"This month, San Francisco initiated legal action targeting 11 different leading food and beverage manufacturers. The lawsuit alleges that the leading food makers "violated California's unfair competition law and public nuisance statute by engaging in unfair and deceptive acts."(1). The goal of the lawsuit is to prohibit these companies from the use of misleading food marketing and also require that necessary steps be taken to diminish their negative health effects."

"There is currently no universally agreed upon definition or classification for processed foods. Interestingly, "processed" has become a term that describes food items ranging from canned vegetables to packaged snack items-like Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Considering the varying degrees of processing between these food items, it is unfair to group canned vegetables into the same category as ultra-processed snack items. The NOVA classification system was first established in 2009 to help divide food groups into categories based on their level of processing.(2)"

San Francisco filed a lawsuit against 11 major food and beverage manufacturers alleging violations of California's unfair competition and public nuisance statutes through unfair and deceptive acts. The lawsuit seeks to stop misleading marketing and compel steps to reduce health harms. Ultra-processed products have flooded retail channels and are linked to well-researched negative health outcomes, prompting scrutiny from public health officials and consumers. Food companies assert that processing supports safety, accessibility, and convenience. No universal definition of processed foods exists, so the NOVA classification, created in 2009, categorizes foods by degree of processing to clarify distinctions.

Read at Psychology Today