NEW YORK, May 27, 2026
Yuka, the independent food and cosmetic scoring application used by more than 85 million users globally, has released a major new report examining the growing health and policy concerns surrounding ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in the United States. The 50-page investigation, titled Ultra-Processed Foods: Decoding a Food Transformation with Major Health Consequences, arrives at a critical moment as federal agencies continue debating how to formally define ultra-processed foods amid rising rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses linked to poor dietary patterns.
According to the report, ultra-processed foods now account for approximately 70% of the U.S. food supply and contribute more than 60% of daily calorie intake among children and adolescents in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Yuka argues that decades of aggressive industrial food processing, targeted marketing, and regulatory inaction have contributed to a national diet-related public health crisis. The report also claims that scientific evidence linking UPFs to adverse health outcomes has become increasingly difficult to ignore, placing pressure on regulators to implement clearer food labeling standards and stricter oversight policies.
Yuka Calls for Stronger Federal Action on UPFs
The report was released as debate intensifies around the absence of an official U.S. federal definition for ultra-processed foods. In July 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly requested public input to help establish a federal framework defining UPFs. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously pledged that a formal federal definition would be delivered by April 2026, but the deadline has passed without a finalized policy announcement.
Yuka stated that the delay reflects broader political and industry challenges surrounding regulation of the food sector. Julie Chapon, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Yuka, emphasized that scientific understanding of UPFs is no longer the primary barrier to action. According to the report, more than 100 scientific studies have linked high UPF consumption to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, certain cancers, and premature mortality.
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The report also highlights California’s recent legislative action as an example of state-level momentum. In October 2025, California enacted AB 1264, becoming the first U.S. state to legally define ultra-processed foods and initiate plans to phase the most concerning UPFs out of public schools by 2035. Yuka argues that similar policies could eventually expand nationwide as healthcare costs associated with diet-related diseases continue rising.
Research Highlights Industrial Food Processing Concerns
One of the report’s most significant findings focuses on the role of industrial food processing itself rather than simply calorie or nutrient content. Yuka cites clinical research, including a landmark 2019 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study and more recent findings published in Nature Medicine, suggesting that diets high in ultra-processed foods may lead to greater weight gain compared with minimally processed diets, even when nutritional content appears similar.
The report additionally examines the influence of multinational food corporations within the global UPF market. According to Yuka, eight multinational companies collectively control approximately 42% of the global ultra-processed food industry, valued at nearly $1.5 trillion. The report states that companies including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mondelez collectively spent more than $13 billion on advertising in 2024, far exceeding the annual budget of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Yuka also draws comparisons between historical tobacco industry strategies and current food industry marketing practices, alleging that certain food corporations adopted tactics such as aggressive child-focused advertising, lobbying efforts, and promotion of scientific uncertainty to influence public perception and regulatory discussions around processed foods.
Consumer Awareness and Food Transparency Gain Momentum
The report concludes with recommendations aimed at helping consumers identify and reduce exposure to ultra-processed foods through ingredient awareness, food label analysis, and increased nutritional transparency. Yuka stated that its application has spent nearly a decade helping consumers evaluate food and cosmetic products using barcode-scanning technology designed to simplify health-related purchasing decisions.
Industry analysts believe public awareness surrounding ultra-processed foods will continue expanding as governments, healthcare organizations, and food manufacturers face increasing pressure to address rising chronic disease rates linked to diet and nutrition. The growing focus on food transparency, front-of-package labeling, ingredient disclosure, and consumer health technology is expected to remain a major trend across the global food industry over the coming decade.
Source: Yuka press release
