At the 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome, the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) urged Codex to lead a global, science-based discussion on food classification systems, particularly concerning the growing “ultra-processed foods” (UPFs) debate.
IUFoST highlighted that the term “ultra-processed” lacks clear scientific definition and is inconsistently applied, often conflating formulation and processing. Such ambiguity, it warned, risks misclassifying safe and nutritious foods, discouraging beneficial technologies like fortification and pasteurization, and creating confusion in trade and policy.
The organization emphasized that Codex, as the joint FAO/WHO body integrating health, agriculture, and trade perspectives, is the legitimate platform to ensure harmonized, evidence-based approaches. It called on the Commission to initiate a structured dialogue, involving relevant Codex committees, FAO, and WHO experts, to develop coherent, transparent, and science-driven food classification frameworks.
IUFoST concluded that Codex leadership is essential to maintain public trust, prevent policy fragmentation, and support fair, evidence-informed global food systems.
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