About The Non-UPF Program
Our nonprofit program offers a certification label on foods, identifying them as Non-Ultra-Processed.
This certification empowers consumers to quickly and confidently choose non-ultra-processed foods at the point of purchase. The Non-UPF certification label decreases confusion and enhances transparency, guiding consumers toward less processed foods made without synthetic ingredients and reducing both short- and long-term health risks.
By building trust and clarity around food choices, the certification may also support healthier eating habits and reduce reliance on chronic dieting and disordered eating.
501(c)(3)
The Non-UPF Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We aim to support consumers' decisions at the point of purchase and educate them about UPFs. Additionally, we encourage food companies to prioritize public health by creating healthier foods made with real, whole-food ingredients rather than industrial formulations.
Based in Pasadena, California, the project is managed by a dedicated team and overseen by a board of directors.
Together, we can make healthier food choices. Join us in the mission of reducing ultra-processed food intake and achieving better nutritional balance for better physical and mental health.
Limited transparency and complex ingredient lists make it difficult for consumers to identify what they’re really eating.
For example, an ingredient like DATEM might sound natural—evoking dates—but it’s actually a chemical called diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and diglycerides. This is one of many synthetic emulsifiers commonly used in baked goods, which are associated with the chronic disease risk linked to UPF.
The Non-UPF Program helps bridge this gap by providing clear, science-backed guidance, empowering consumers to make informed choices and easily identify truly wholesome, non-ultra-processed foods.
The Non-UPF certificate is an endorsement that a food contains no ultra-processed ingredients at the time of certification approval.
This endorsement is based solely on the information disclosed on the food label by the food manufacturer and/or its distributor. It does not certify the absence of cross-contamination, food allergens, or other substances that may affect one’s health. The Non-UPF Program is not responsible for any nondisclosure, omission, or misinformation on a food label or otherwise provided by a food manufacturer and/or distributor.