Ultra-processed foods and their implications for agriculture, health, and policy reform

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) present an increasing challenge for food system governance and the well-being of human communities. The aim of this study is to analyze the systemic role of UPFs within food systems and to identify legal and policy interventions addressing their health, agricultural, and environmental impacts. This article explores the intersection of UPF-dominated food environments with health disparities, agricultural incentives, and environmental pressures, drawing on insights from international policy developments and legal analysis. It reviews recent global and European initiatives, including the World Health Organization's 2025 guidance and the European Union's actions to limit the availability and marketing of UPFs. The article advocates regulatory approaches that extend beyond single-nutrient frameworks to address food processing as an inherent aspect of contemporary food systems. The analysis identifies pathways connecting UPFs to human outcomes, including elevated obesity rates among adults, increased exposure of children to targeted UPF marketing, and the commodity-driven production of cereals, sugars, and oilseeds used in both UPFs and animal feeds. Additionally, it underscores environmental externalities, such as energy-intensive processing, packaging waste, and the pressures on land and water resources concentrated in rural areas. Ultimately, the article proposes legally feasible measures that integrate public health and sustainability objectives. These include public procurement standards, fiscal and marketing controls on UPFs, enhanced labeling practices, and support for short supply chains, thereby linking food law reform to goals of equity and sustainability. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.