Non-Ultraprocessed Foods Verification Program Moves Forward

Looks like a non-ultraprocessed foods certification program is gelling. The Non-GMO Project, creator of that eponymous certification and butterfly symbol back in 2012, says 16 food brands have joined its pilot program to develop the industry’s first Non-Ultraprocessed Foods (Non-UPF) Verification.

Amy's Kitchen, Bear, Califia Farms, Caulipower, Heray Spice, Levelle Nutrition, Olyra, One Mighty Mill, Simple Mills, Spindrift and Yes Bar were those named in the pilot program. They range from startups with sales of less than $5 million to established brands generating more than $1 billion.

More than 200 brands have expressed interest in the certification, “signaling unprecedented industry momentum to address ultraprocessed foods,” the announcement said. “UPFs now comprise over half of calories consumed in Western countries. Awareness of the issue has caused some legislators and regulators to consider defining, labeling, or restricting ultraprocessed foods.”

The pilot stems from the Non-GMO Project’s Food Integrity Collective, launched in August 2024 “to create alternatives to the industrial food system.” During the collective’s gatherings, food system leaders identified a critical gap: the absence of any industry standard for food processing transparency, despite growing consumer demand and mounting health concerns.

What is the standard, their definition? A spokesperson replied: “Ultraprocessed foods are products that have undergone extensive industrial processing, often using multiple synthetic additives, refined ingredients, or reconstituted formulations that significantly alter their original structure and function. Non-UPF Verified limits processing to what is essential for safety and preservation, maintains closer ties to whole food origins, and avoids the industrial techniques and additives that define UPFs.

“The Non-UPF Verified Standard evaluates both ingredients and processing methods, providing a rigorous framework to guide manufacturers and help consumers navigate a highly processed food landscape.”

Megan Westgate, founder and CEO of the Non-GMO Project, added, “Our pilot group covers nearly every aisle of the grocery store — from emerging, mission-driven companies to established household names, from meat and dairy to snacks. We want Non-UPF Verified products to be available to a wide array of shoppers, regardless of their brand preferences or dietary needs.”

Westgate draws a direct line between GMOs and UPFs: “Both genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and UPFs are deeply disconnected from natural food sources. Consumers deserve the same level of transparency and choice about ultraprocessed ingredients that we have provided for genetically engineered ones."

It’s still a work in progress. The Non-GMO Project is consulting with global partners to ensure the Non-UPF Verified Standard meets both rigorous scientific criteria and practical industry implementation requirements.

See more at www.nonultraprocessed.org.