Ultra-Processed Food Labeling
Submit your LOI by October 15th, 2026
The Food Policy Research Program (FPR) invites letters of intent for formative research on how ultra-processed food (UPF) labels affect consumer behavior and perceptions, alone and in combination with front-of-package nutrition labeling.
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Additionally, at the federal level, the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2026 would direct the FDA to establish a single official definition of “non-UPF” and bar non-UPF claims on products that do not meet the FDA’s “healthy” definition.
UPF Identity Labels
The administration may also be considering front-of-package UPF identity labels (i.e., labels stating that a food is ultra-processed or has ultra-processed ingredients).
Front-of-Package UPF Warning Labels
Federal legislation has been introduced to require front-of-package UPF warning labels. Meanwhile, the FDA is moving toward finalizing front-of-package nutrition labeling, which may take the form of “high in” labels similar to systems used in other countries and adapting them for the US context.
Applicants should confirm the current status of the policies described above at the time of submission.
- How do non-UPF labels, UPF identity labels, and UPF warning labels, alone and in combination with “high in” front-of-package nutrition labels, affect consumers’ purchasing behavior and perceptions of a range of US products?
Research Area 1 Example Outcomes of Interest
| Primary Outcomes | Secondary Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Selection of a UPF product | Perceived healthfulness of individual products |
| Selection of a product carrying a “high in” designation | Noticing or recalling the UPF or nutrition label |
| Nutritional quality of the selected item (e.g., Nutrient Profile Index score) | Self-reported use of the UPF or nutrition label in making a selection |
Other Possible Study Arms
Applicants may propose additional study arms testing other front-of-package labels.
- Inclusion of an FDA “healthy” icon.
- Inclusion of a traffic-light system in which foods meeting the FDA “healthy” definition receive a green label, UPFs receive a red label, and all other foods receive a yellow label.
- How do non-UPF labels applied under different certification systems affect consumers’ purchasing behavior and perceptions of the products carrying them?
Research Area 2 Guidance
Proposals responsive to this question should give particular attention to products that would not meet the FDA “healthy” definition but would qualify for a non-UPF label under one or more existing or proposed certification systems, including California’s proposed definition and the three voluntary certification initiatives currently in use.
- Download and complete the letter of intent template for formative and evaluation research studies, available on the Research Opportunities page.
- Email the completed letter of intent to FPR-funding@uic.edu using the subject line: Letter of Intent for FPR UPF Labeling Special Call [PI last name].
- The Food Policy Research Program will review letters of intent on a rolling basis and invite selected applicants to submit a full proposal through UIC’s InfoReady system.
- The deadline to submit an LOI is Thursday, October 15th, 2026.
For questions related to this call, please email FPR-funding@uic.edu.