**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SAFE HIGH QUALITY AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS ARE CRITICAL FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND THEIR SUSTAINED PRODUCTION IS IMPORTANT FOR DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FOSTERING CONSUMER TRUST AND THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. THE FOOD SYSTEM PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN ADDRESSING DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS OBESITY CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES DIABETES AND CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCERS. TO PROVIDE THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR ADDRESSING THE DEMAND FOR SAFE HIGH QUALITY ACCESSIBLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE AND TO EXPLORE UNREALIZED OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING FOOD SAFETY QUALITY AND NUTRITION ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN REQUIRES A SCIENCE-BASED AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ADDRESSING IF THERE IS A HEALTH IMPACT FROM FOOD PROCESSING AND FORMULATION. PROCESSING AND FORMULATION ARE DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS OF FOODS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY AND WITH DIFFERENT IMPACTS ON HEALTHTHAT ARE OFTEN CONFLATED IN THE CATEGORY OFULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO LEVEL-SET THE INCONSISTENCIES AND CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE EVALUATION OF PROCESSING AND FORMULATION TO ENSURE THAT FOOD CLASSIFICATION AND DECISIONS BASEDON THESE SCHEMES ARE IMPACTFUL TO HEALTH.GIVEN THE WEIGHT OF DISCUSSIONS IN THIS AREA THE 2025-2030 DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DGAC) ADDRESSED THE QUESTION: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSUMPTION OF DIETARY PATTERNS WITH VARYING AMOUNTS OF ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS AND GROWTH SIZE BODY COMPOSITION RISK OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AND WEIGHT LOSS AND MAINTENANCE? (USDA/HHS 2022). IN MAY 2024 THE DGAC REPORTED THAT: LIMITED EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT DIETARY PATTERNS WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS OF FOODS CLASSIFIED AS UPF CONSUMED BY ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH GREATER ADIPOSITY (FAT MASS WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE BMI) AND RISK OF OBESITY/OVERWEIGHT. THE STATEMENT WAS THE SAME FOR THE EVALUATION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AND THE SAME OUTCOMES. IN MEETING 5 THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOTED THAT THEY STRUGGLED WITH THE REALITY THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE DEFINITION FOR THESE FOODS (USDA/HHS 2024).THERE IS A CLEAR NEED TO IMPROVE RESEARCH APPROACHES AND FACILITATE RESEARCH EVALUATION AND SYNTHESIS TO EVIDENCE REVIEWS SUCH AS THAT CONDUCED BY THE DGAC - TO ENSURE THAT POLICIES BASED ON THE SCIENCE HAVE THE INTENDED BENEFITS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND AVOID UNINTENDED ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES.IN THIS PROJECT A WRITING GROUP COMPRISED OF EXPERTS WITH VARYING EXPERTISE WILL DRAFT PRINCIPLES FOR CLASSIFICATION OF FOODS BASED ON PROCESSING AND FORMULATION. THESE PRINCIPLES ARE INTENDED TO REPRESENT AGREEMENT ON THE FOUNDATIONAL EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR SCIENCE-BASED FOOD CLASSIFICATION IN THIS WAY. THE BROADER FOOD AND NUTRITION COMMUNITY WILL BE INVITED TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLES ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF STAKEHOLDERS.$49,999
· FY2025 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture