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Ultra-Processed Foods and Chronic Disease: Current Research and Future Priorities
Special Offer! Use coupon code N26FIFTY for half off through December 31!
CME Credit Available for Physicians!
This session brings together NIH, USDA, and FDA efforts to advance the science of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) through research, to inform practices, policies, and prevention. Speakers will highlight the current landscape of NIH-supported research and key evidence gaps; findings from large cohort studies on UPF intake and cancer risk, including ongoing challenges in dietary assessment; and emerging insights from metabolomics, feeding trials, and neuroimaging studies. Presentations will explore whether observed health risks reflect processing itself or underlying nutritional quality and identify key drivers of excess energy intake. The session will conclude with federal efforts to develop a standardized UPF definition and advance regulatory science, with implications for research, policy, and dietary guidance.
Originally presented at NUTRITION 2026, ASN's flagship meeting which was held July 25-28 in National Harbor, MD
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Speakers
Andrew Bremer, MD, MAS, PhD
National Institutes of Health
Kaelyn F. Burns, PhD, MS
Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute
Valerie L. Darcey, PhD, MS, RD, LD
National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Aaron Hengist, PhD
National Institutes of Health
Nicholas Jury, PhD
National Institutes of Health, Office of Nutrition Research
Claudine Kavanaugh, PhD, MPH, RD
Food and Drug Administration
Bramaramba J. Kowtha, MS, RDN, LDN
National Institutes of Health, Office of Disease Prevention
Leah M. Lipsky, PhD, MHS
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Learning Objectives
- Review key findings on the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs), including ongoing challenges in dietary assessment and emerging insights from metabolomics, feeding trials, and neuroimaging studies
- Evaluate whether the observed health risks associated with UPFs are attributable to food processing itself or to underlying nutritional quality and excess energy intake
- Discuss federal efforts to develop standardized definitions for UPFs and advance regulatory science, and consider the implications for research, policy and dietary guidance
Competencies
The Desirable Physician Attributes addressed in this activity are:
- Systems-Based Practice
- Medical Knowledge
Target Audience
- Researchers
- Physicians
- Dietitians
- Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners
- Academic Faculty
- Health Educators
- Behavioral Specialists
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Undergraduate/Graduate Students/Postdoctoral Fellows
- Medical Students and Residents
- Wellness Professionals
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Course summary
- 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The American Society for Nutrition is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The ASN designates this activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.50 Certificate of Participation
ASN does not offer CME credit to non-physicians. However, all non-physician professionals of this activity will be able to complete an evaluation and download a Certificate of Participation. This certificate designates your participation in this education activity. It lists the amount of continuing medical education credit that has been designated for physicians by ASN. You should be able to use this documentation for your licensing or certification needs. To determine if activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ are acceptable for your licensing or certification needs, please contact your credentialing body directly. Please note ASN cannot guarantee its acceptance.
This activity includes the following presentations:
Opening Remarks and Introductions
Bramaramba J. Kowtha, MS, RDN, LDN
National Institutes of Health, Office of Disease Prevention
NIH Supported Research on Ultra-Processed Foods Portfolio Analysis
Nicholas Jury, PhD
National Institutes of Health, Office of Nutrition Research
A Multi-faceted Approach to Understand the Role of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Cancer Etiology and Prevention
Kaelyn F. Burns, PhD, MS
Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute
Ultra-Processed Foods, Energy Intake, and Obesity Risk: Mechanistic Insights From Controlled Feeding and Neuroimaging Studies
Aaron Hengist, PhD
National Institutes of Health
Valerie L. Darcey, PhD, MS, RD, LD
National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
Associations of Ultra-Processed Food Intake with Cardiometabolic Risk Differ by Nutritional Quality
Leah M. Lipsky, PhD, MHS
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
FDA and Ultra-Processed Foods
Claudine Kavanaugh, PhD, MPH, RD
Food and Drug Administration
NIH Priorities on UPF Research
Andrew Bremer, MD, MAS, PhD
National Institutes of Health
Questions and Answers
Disclosure Policy
It is the policy of the American Society of Nutrition, in compliance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education to ensure that education presents learners with only accurate, balanced, and scientifically justified recommendations and protects learners from promotion, marketing, and commercial bias. ASN requires disclosure of all financial interest that the planning committee (including ASN staff) or faculty members have with ineligible companies. All faculty and contributors to this continuing education activity have disclosed any relevant financial relationship that may have direct bearing on the subject matter of this program. Specific disclosure information is in the course materials.
The American Society for Nutrition supports fair and unbiased participation of individuals in its education activities. Any real or potential conflicts of interest must be identified and managed. All relevant financial relationships with commercial interests that directly impact and/or might conflict with ASN activities must be disclosed, or disclosure that no relevant financial relationships exist must be documented. Other relationships that could cause private interests to conflict with professional interests must also be disclosed. This policy is intended to openly identify any potential conflict so that participants in an education activity are able to form their own judgments about the presentation. In addition, disclosure must be made of presentations on drugs or devices or uses of drugs or devices that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Speakers
Andrew Bremer, MD, MAS, PhD, National Institutes of Health
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Kaelyn F. Burns, PhD, MS, Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Valerie L. Darcey, PhD, MS, RD, LD, National Institutes of Health, NIDDK
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Aaron Hengist, PhD, National Institutes of Health
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Nicholas Jury, PhD, National Institutes of Health, Office of Nutrition Research
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Claudine Kavanaugh, PhD, MPH, RD, Food and Drug Administration
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Bramaramba J. Kowtha, MS, RDN, LDN, National Institutes of Health, Office of Disease Prevention
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Leah M. Lipsky, PhD, MHS, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Planners
The following individuals served on the NUTRITION 2026 Scientific Program Committee. This session was included in the scientific program of NUTRITION 2026, ASN's flagship meeting which was held from July 25-28 in National Harbor, MD
Monica Agarwal, MD, MEHP, PNS, FACE, University of Alabama at Birmingham
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Ann Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Aline Andres, PhD, RD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Sarah Borengasser, PhD, MS, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
James Collins, PhD, University of Florida
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Samaneh Farsijani, PhD, RD, University of Pittsburgh
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Rafaela Feresin, PhD, Georgia State University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Martha Field, PhD, Cornell University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Jennifer Fisher, PhD, Temple University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Sarah Gebauer, PhD, FASN, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Stephen Hennigar, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Debbie Humphries, PhD, MPH, Yale University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
J. Philip Karl, PhD, RD, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, FAND, University of California, Irvine
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Diana Obanda, PhD, University of Maryland
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Cristina Palacios, PhD, FASN, Florida International University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Drew Sayer, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Raz Shaikh, PhD, FASN, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Disclosure(s):
• Metagenics Inc.: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing); Wiley Companies: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
• All of the relevant financial relationships listed for this individual have been mitigated.
Diane Stadler, PhD, RDN, LD, Oregon Health & Science University
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Stephanie Waldrop, MD, MPH, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
ASN Consultant
Lauren O’Connor, PhD, MPH, Texas A&M Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Evidence Center
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Staff
Michelle Crispino, American Society for Nutrition
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Stephanie Dunbar, MPH, RN, American Society for Nutrition
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Gwen Twillman, American Society for Nutrition
No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The American Society for Nutrition is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation
Physicians
The ASN designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The certificate you receive upon completion of this education activity will list the amount of continuing medical education credit you were awarded. Please use this documentation for your CME licensing or certification needs.
Learners seeking CME credit are required to pass a post-test assessment of subject matter comprehension. To pass the post-test assessment, learners must correctly answer 75% of the questions.
Non-physician Professionals
For registered dietitians, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) recognizes enduring educational activities offered by ACCME accredited providers. For any additional questions, participants can contact CDR at [email protected].
ASN does not offer CME credit to non-physicians. However, all non-physician professionals will be able to complete an evaluation and download a Certificate of Participation. This certificate designates your participation in this education activity. It lists the amount of continuing medical education credit that has been designated for physicians by ASN. You should be able to use this documentation for your licensing or certification needs. To determine if activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ are acceptable for your licensing or certification needs, please contact your credentialing body directly. Please note ASN cannot guarantee its acceptance.
Learners seeking a Certificate of Participation are required to pass a post-test assessment of subject matter comprehension. To pass the post-test assessment, learners must correctly answer 75% of the questions.
Commercial Support
There is no commercial support for this activity.
Available Credit
- 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The American Society for Nutrition is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The ASN designates this activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.50 Certificate of Participation
ASN does not offer CME credit to non-physicians. However, all non-physician professionals of this activity will be able to complete an evaluation and download a Certificate of Participation. This certificate designates your participation in this education activity. It lists the amount of continuing medical education credit that has been designated for physicians by ASN. You should be able to use this documentation for your licensing or certification needs. To determine if activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ are acceptable for your licensing or certification needs, please contact your credentialing body directly. Please note ASN cannot guarantee its acceptance.
Price
Special Offer! Use coupon code N26FIFTY for half off through December 31!
Special ASN Member Benefit - 50% Off for Members!
ASN members receive this course for 50% off. Login now to get the $10 special member rate. If you do not see the member rate displayed for you after logging in, please contact [email protected].
Not an ASN member? Click here to join ASN to receive member rates on all DiscoverNUTRITION products!