Scientists and Public Health Experts Launch “Fed UP!” Movement to Increase Transparency and Accountability Around Ultra-Processed Food
New national campaign aims to translate emerging science on ultra-processed food into accessible public education and action
NATIONWIDE — Today, leading scientists, researchers, and public health advocates launched Fed UP!, a new science-first consumer education movement dedicated to exposing the harms of ultra-processed food and empowering Americans with clear, evidence-based information about how the modern food system impacts health.
The launch coincides with a major new feature section in the American Journal of Public Health, where new U.S.-specific research links ultra-processed food consumption to chronic disease, cognitive impairment, exposing product engineering and ingredient manipulation built for overconsumption, and examining how the largest tobacco companies helped build and scale the modern ultra-processed food industry.
The movement’s new website, FedUPMovement.org, serves as a public-facing hub translating scientific research into accessible education, resources, and tools designed to help families, communities, and policymakers better understand ultra-processed food and take meaningful action.
Scientific contributors to Fed UP! include:
- Dr. Kelly Brownell, Duke University
- Dr. Tera Fazzino, University of Kansas
- Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, University of Michigan
- Dr. Heejin Lee, Harvard University
- Dr. Cindy W. Leung, Harvard University
- Dr. Carlos Monteiro, University of Sao Paulo
- Dr. Marion Nestle, New York University
- Dr. Jeff Niederdeppe, Cornell University
- Dr. Laura Schmidt, University of California, San Francisco
- Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
“People are overwhelmed by confusing labels, relentless marketing, and mixed messages about what’s healthy,” said Dr. Lindsey Smith Taillie. “Fed UP! was created to make the science around ultra-processed food both understandable and actionable.”
Ultra-processed food now accounts for the majority of calories consumed in the United States, including many products marketed as convenient or even healthy. A growing body of peer-reviewed research has linked high consumption of these products to increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, depression, dementia, metabolic disease, and premature death.
The issue goes beyond nutrition alone.
“This isn’t about blaming individuals or telling families they lack willpower,” said Dr. Laura Schmidt. “The food environment has been engineered to prioritize corporate profits over public health. People deserve honest information about how these products are designed, marketed, and made so difficult to avoid.”
Fed UP! highlights how ultra-processed food is a systemic public health issue shaped by corporate practices, including product engineering, aggressive marketing, and regulatory gaps that allow many industrial food additives and ingredients into the food supply without comprehensive, independent review. It is designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding at a time of growing concern about food system transparency and chronic disease.
The campaign also spotlights emerging research documenting the historical influence of major tobacco companies on the modern food industry. New analyses published in the American Journal of Public Health show how tobacco corporations applied cigarette research, consumer psychology, and product engineering strategies to packaged food products beginning in the 1980s — helping normalize the highly processed, hyper-palatable foods seen throughout the American diet today.
Above all, Fed UP! is a science-first movement:
- Independent from food manufacturers and special interests
- Grounded in peer-reviewed, conflict-free science
- Focused on public education without shame or guilt
- Dedicated to translating research accurately and accessibly
- Committed to pairing education with action
The campaign features educational explainers, research summaries, videos, social media content, and practical resources for individuals and communities seeking to better understand ultra-processed food and advocate for healthier food environments. Fed UP!’s resource partner organizations include: EatReal, EWG, FoodFight USA, Healthy Food America, Kick Big Soda Out of Sport, and Yuka.
The movement also plans to work alongside researchers and aligned organizations to elevate new science and support broader conversations around transparency, regulation, and accountability.
The launch comes as public awareness of ultra-processed food continues to rise nationwide, and the public conversation is shifting rapidly.
“People are fed up with a food system that makes unhealthy products cheap, convenient, and unavoidable, while leaving families to shoulder the health consequences. Families are asking important questions about how food is made, marketed, and regulated, and how they can be a part of change,” said Dr. Ashley Gearhardt. “Fed UP! is a new resource hub for anyone to access practical tools and information that can help them lead healthier lives. Fed UP! is here to help demystify our food system and empower communities and families through transparency and accountability.”
Fed UP! emphasizes that its mission is not perfection or food policing, but transparency, accountability, and making it easier for people to access food that genuinely supports health and well-being.
To learn more, visit FedUPMovement.org and follow Fed UP! on Instagram and Facebook.
