IAFNS at IUNS-ICN 2025
Paris, France
August 24, 2025 – August 29, 2025
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
IUNS-ICN 2025
Science-Based Food Classification Focused on Processing and Formulation – For Public Health
Controversy has ignited around food classification systems based on variable criteria that incorporate some degree of food processing and/or characteristics related to food formulation. In 4Q 2024, the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee struggled with evaluating the relationship between dietary patterns containing various amounts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and weight-related outcomes, and was unable to arrive at a recommendation.
At the same time, authorities in other areas of the world have implemented guidance and policies around UPF. There is an opportunity to engage the scientific community to address these challenges with science.
This session will review key research completed and currently underway that addresses outstanding questions about UPF mechanisms. In addition, the session will cover the specific efforts of the International Union of Food Science and Technology’s Food Processing for Nutrition, Diet, and Health Task Force to develop a quantitative approach to evaluating effects of processing on nutrient composition, the Institute for the Advancement of Food & Nutrition Sciences’ work to develop Principles for food classification, and work at the University of Copenhagen to develop the next generation of the Nova classification by taking the nutritional composition and the food matrix into consideration.
Panel:
Joanne Slavin, PhD RD, University of Minnesota – Chair
Mario Estevez, DVM PhD, University of Extremadura
Julie Hess, PhD, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Susanne Bügel, PhD, University of Copenhagen
Erich Windhab, PhD, ETH Zurich
More information about IUNS is here.
This event is supported by IAFNS Working Group on Science-Based Principles for Food Classification Based on Processing and Formulation to Support Public Health.