Updated · Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine · May 15
HER Urges Exempting 14 Healthy Ultra-Processed Food Categories as US Weighs Definition
Updated
Updated · Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine · May 15
HER Urges Exempting 14 Healthy Ultra-Processed Food Categories as US Weighs Definition
2 articles · Updated · Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine · May 15
Healthy Eating Research said policies targeting ultra-processed foods should exempt healthier products, arguing broad restrictions risk penalizing breads, cereals and plant-based meat alternatives.
The 14-member committee said exemptions should apply to foods that include recommended food groups, stay below added sugar, sodium and saturated fat thresholds, and contain no non-sugar sweeteners.
The recommendation lands as the FDA and USDA work on a federal definition of ultra-processed foods that could shape taxes, advertising limits and eligibility for the National School Lunch Program.
Research cited in the report found processed meats and sugary or artificially sweetened drinks raise heart-disease and diabetes risk, while some bread, cereal and plant-based alternatives show beneficial effects.
The report echoes a broader shift in nutrition science, including a 2025 American Heart Association statement that some ultra-processed foods can fit within a healthy diet.
If some processed foods are now 'good,' does this change everything we know about healthy eating?
Can a 'healthy' processed food label be trusted, or is it simply a new marketing gimmick?
Will closing the food industry's ingredient loophole reveal what is truly in our food?