Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), released the following statement in response to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Food and Drug Administration’s announcing the advancement of a proposed federal definition of ultra-processed food.
AFFI supports the overall goal of the Trump administration to prioritize the health and nutrition of all Americans, and we know that frozen food is an affordable, real food solution. Freezing preserves the quality and nutrition of food while reducing food waste, which extends the consumer’s food dollar.
A federal definition that classifies foods based on how they are made rather than their nutrition could have significant implications for food and nutrition programs in addition to increasing the cost of many foods without clear benefit to consumer health.
Any suggestion that there is scientific consensus around what constitutes a “UPF” gets ahead of the science. It is essential that any proposed definition be based on strong scientific evidence, developed through a transparent process, and be subject to meaningful review and input from stakeholders before it is used for any purpose.
