The Lacuna Project

lacuna (n.) a gap in a record where something should be

Independent research. Not affiliated with any government, agency, or company.

Exhibit 140

Report on food-company lobbying over the federal ultra-processed food definition

Exhibit 140 ยท Journalism

Report on food-company lobbying over the federal ultra-processed food definition

Reports, on anonymous sourcing, that food-company executives lobbied the Trump administration to delay or block release of a proposed definition of ultra-processed food, that the white paper had not been cleared by the White House budget office, that an HHS spokesperson called the policy under interagency review and not finalized, and that an administration official said the effort remains on track. Does not report that a release was cancelled.

Source
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Date
10 August 2026
Grade
Reported
Document
https://www.inquirer.com/business/ultra-processed-food-definition-ceos-delay-industry-costs-litigation-business-white-house-20260810.html
Accessed
2026-11-09
Cited by
Findings citing this exhibit

Cited by

Finding AGR-1.13
Reported A proposed federal definition of ultra-processed food went to OMB review as a white paper on 3 August 2026, according to OIRA's review record, and had not been released as of 13 October 2026. The Philadelphia Inquirer, carrying a Bloomberg article, reported on 10 August 2026 that food-company executives lobbied the Trump administration to delay or block its release, according to people familiar with the discussions. STAT reported on 22 October 2026 that the planned release was canceled at the last minute.
Finding MED-6.6
Reported The Philadelphia Inquirer, carrying a Bloomberg article, reported on 10 August 2026 that food-company executives lobbied the Trump administration to delay or block release of a federal definition of ultra-processed food, according to people familiar with the discussions. STAT reported on 22 October 2026 that the planned release was canceled at the last minute and that the definition remained unreleased. The food industry disputes that its lobbying caused the delay.