Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are increasingly being criticized, they would promote obesity and chronic diseases. The NOVA classification system, adopted by the World Health Organization, is currently being discussed in the EU and in individual countries. UPFs fall in class 4 of the NOVA system and are described as containing five or more ingredients including substances extracted from foods and substances derived from further processing of food components. They may also contain food additives including colors, flavors, non-sugar sweeteners and processing aids found only in UPF.
While most modern foods are processed in some way (e.g., raw rice packaged into dried rice, pasteurized milk), UPFs are recognizable for no longer serving the purpose of solely preserving food but rather to make ready-to-eat, convenient products with long shelf-lives and which are liable to replace other foods.
To prevent warning labels or advertising restrictions, the industry is defending itself. FoodDrinkEurope, the EU food industry federation, and the German Food Association have launched position papers. The papers state that processing food is done to preserve food, to guarantee food safety and optimize taste. Additives are already extensively tested by the Efsa before they are allowed.