The “Fed Up” campaign will provide information about highly processed foods and tools to advocate for changes in school nutrition programs and government policy.
WASHINGTON — Researchers and health advocates have launched a new campaign aimed at reducing Americans’ reliance on ultra-processed foods.
The campaign, called “Fed Up,” will provide consumers with information about highly processed foods and tools to advocate for changes in school nutrition programs and government policy.
Ultra-processed foods, often referred to as UPFs, are products made largely from industrial ingredients and manufacturing processes rather than whole foods.
According to researchers at the University of California Davis, the category includes products such as soft drinks, packaged snacks, many mass-produced baked goods, flavored yogurts and instant soups. The classification was developed by Brazilian public health researchers as part of the NOVA food classification system.
According to the CDC, more than half of U.S. adults get the majority of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods. Among children, that figure rises to roughly 60%.
The Food and Drug Administration also identified addressing concerns surrounding ultra-processed foods as one of its 2026 priorities, citing associations between UPF consumption and numerous chronic diseases.
Supporters are calling for measures including warning labels on ultra-processed foods, restrictions on marketing such products to children and additional safety testing for food additives.
Campaign organizers point to studies that have linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to increased risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and dementia.
Food industry groups, however, maintain that their products meet federal safety standards and argue that consumers should continue to have access to a wide variety of food choices.