25/11/2025
๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข
๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ซ๐-๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐๐ฌ: ๐ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐
(Guided by the IUFoSTโs Framework on Food Classification Systems)
There is growing pressure to regulate โUltra-Processed Foods (UPF)โ using the NOVA classification system. However, NOVA is a framework developed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Philippines is not under the American Health Organization. Our national food control system is anchored on the Food Safety Act of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10611), which is fully harmonized with Codex Alimentarius, the only globally recognized and World Trade Organization (WTO)-sanctioned food standards body.
๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ-๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ-๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐
๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐. Under Codex, processing is not a hazard; rather, it is a control measure that protects consumers by reducing pathogens, stabilizing nutrients, enabling fortification, and ensuring food safety. Codex, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is uniquely positioned to guide discussion about UPF and to provide consistent terminology essential to the common understanding among regulators, industry, and consumers.
Recent discussions on UPFs have reduced a complex scientific issue into a simple good-versus-bad narrative, portraying food processing as inherently harmful and overlooking its crucial role in food safety, food security, nutrition, and sustainability. ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐, ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ: ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ณ๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ. The final composition of foods should remain the focus of public health strategies.
Because the term โUPFโ is widely used but poorly defined and understood, it should be applied with careful consideration. ๐๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ถ๐ด๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น. The term should be used only when supported by clear, agreed-upon classification criteria and communicated in a way that avoids misleading the public or creating unintended consequences.
Scientific bodies such as the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) have developed multi-attribute models such as the Formulation and Processing Classification (IF&PC), which more accurately reflect formulation, technological purpose, nutrient characteristics, and safety functions of processingโunlike NOVA, which oversimplifies foods based only on the degree of processing.
We support the IUFoST approach to food classification systems to address current gaps and minimize the confusion caused by the NOVA classification system. A summary of salient points raised by IUFoST is as follows:
๐ญ. ๐๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ-๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
โฃ Develop and validate the Formulation and Processing Classification (IF&PC) model.
โฃ Integrate attributes such as nutrient composition, safety, sustainability, affordability, and palatability.
โฃ Promote scientific consensus through expert consultations and regional workshops.
๐ฎ. ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
โฃ Position classification discussions under Codex Alimentarius for neutrality and scientific rigor.
โฃ Engage FAO, WHO, and Codex committees to align with nutrient profiling and labeling frameworks
โฃ Mobilize global scientific networks to provide robust evidence for policy deliberations.
๐ฏ. ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
โฃ Reframe food processing as a science-driven ally for health and sustainability.
โฃ Disseminate clear communication materials (e.g., infographics, videos) showcasing benefits:
โซ๏ธSafety: Pasteurization, additives preventing spoilage.
โซ๏ธNutrition: Fortified foods addressing deficiencies.
โซ๏ธSustainability: Reducing food loss and waste.
โฃ Highlight collaborations with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) to strengthen industrial and scientific impact.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ โ๐จ๐ฃ๐โ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Without a science-based definition, proposed regulations risk misclassifying foods, imposing economic burdens on MSMEs, and contradicting globally recognized standards under Codex Alimentarius and the Food Safety Act of 2013, both of which emphasize transparency and evidence-based decision-making.
We recommend the following selected materials, which provide a science-based perspective regarding this topic:
Ahrnรฉ, L., Chen, H., Henry, C.J. et al. Defining the role of processing in food classification systemsโthe IUFoST formulation & processing approach. npj Sci Food 9, 56 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00395-x
Grosso, G. (2024). Ultra-processed foods: the good, the bad and the ugly of food processing. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 75(8), 749โ752. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2024.2429996
International Union of Food Science and Technology. (2025). Your Engagement Requested โ IUFoST Framework on Food Classification Systems. IUFoST. https://iufost.org/your-engagement-requested-iufost-framework-food-classification-systems
Trumbo, P. R., Campbell, J. K., Decker, E., Drewnowski, A., Erdman, J. W., Ferruzzi, M. G., Forde, C. G., Gibney, M. J., Hess, J. M., Klurfeld, D. M., Latulippe, M. E., E., L., Reimers, K. J., Rolls, B. J., Schulz, J., Weaver, C., & Yu, L. (2024). Toward a science-based classification of processed foods to support meaningful research and effective health policies. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1389601. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1389601
๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ.
๐ป๐ณ๐ซ๐น: ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐.