Ultra-Processed Foods Research: Past, Present, and Future

Chair(s)

• BR

  Barbara Rolls, PhD

  Professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair in Nutritional Sciences
  Nutrition and Health Sciences
  The Pennsylvania State University
  University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

  Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• MF

  Mario Ferruzzi, PhD

  Dean and Professor
  Virginia Tech
  Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

  Disclosure(s): Brightseed: Grant/Research Support (Terminated); Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Cargill: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
  Chick-Fila: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Terminated)
  Danone North America: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
  Sensient Technologies: Executive Role (e.g. Board of Directors) (Ongoing); Stock Shareholder (excluding mutual funds) (Ongoing)

Speaker(s)

• CF

  Ciarán Forde, PhD

  Professor and Chair: Sensory Science and Eating Behavior
  Division of Human Nutrition and Health
  Wageningen University and Research
  Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

  Disclosure(s): AB Mauri: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Ajinomoto: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Ferrero (Somartec): Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  GB Foods: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Kerry Taste and Nutrition: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Lesaffre: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
  Mondelez: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Nestle Nutrition Institute: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  Northern Irish Dairy Council: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
  PepsiCo: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated)
• 

  Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS

  Regional Dean, Director, and John P. McGovern Professor of Health Promotion
  Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences
  UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living
  Austin, Texas, United States

  Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
• 

  Marlou Lasschuijt, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Professor: Sensory Science and Eating Behavior
  Division of Human Nutrition and Health
  Wageningen University and Research
  Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

  Disclosure(s): Nestle Nutrition Institute: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated, October 1, 2024)
• CW

  Catherine Woteki, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University; Past Chair, ASN Foundation Board of Trustees; Former Member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
  Iowa State University; American Society for Nutrition Foundation
  Washington, Virginia, United States

  Disclosure(s): Neogen: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)

First, a member of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will explain the process and rationale behind the 'limited evidence' grade for the body of literature about ultra-processed food intake and growth, body composition, and obesity. Second, results from the highly anticipated RESTRUCTURE project will be presented which will help answer whether eating rate and food texture, rather than degree of processing, leads to higher energy intake. Lastly, we'll hear from the ASN Foundation and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research about an upcoming funding initiative to pave the way for future randomized controlled trials to further advance our understanding about ultra-processed foods and health outcomes.

Presentations:

• 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM ET

  Science Brief: The U.S Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Review of the Science on Ultra-Processed Foods
  

  Speaker: Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS – UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living
• 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM ET

  The RESTRUCTURE Trial: Design and Outcomes
  

  Speaker: Marlou Lasschuijt, PhD (she/her/hers) – Wageningen University and Research
• 2:30 PM - 2:55 PM ET

  The RESTRUCTURE Trial: Design and Outcomes
  

  Speaker: Ciarán G. Forde, PhD – Wageningen University and Research
• 2:55 PM - 3:10 PM ET

  Advancing Science on Ultra-Processed Foods via Adversarial Collaboration
  

  Speaker: Catherine E. Woteki, PhD (she/her/hers) – Iowa State University; American Society for Nutrition Foundation
• 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM ET

  Panel Discussion - Ultra-Processed Foods Research: Past, Present, and Future
  

  Chair: Barbara J. Rolls, PhD – The Pennsylvania State University

  Chair: Mario G. Ferruzzi, PhD – Virginia Tech

  Speaker: Ciarán G. Forde, PhD – Wageningen University and Research

  Speaker: Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS – UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living

  Speaker: Marlou Lasschuijt, PhD (she/her/hers) – Wageningen University and Research

  Speaker: Catherine E. Woteki, PhD (she/her/hers) – Iowa State University; American Society for Nutrition Foundation