Industry ties found in research on ultra processed foods

A new study has found many food industry links among authors who wrote about ultra processed foods.

Researchers from the Oregon Research Institute looked at 69 academic articles. The articles were published between 2009 and 2025. The papers either criticized the Nova food system or talked about possible benefits of ultra-processed foods.

The researchers checked the industry links of 232 authors. They found that 91.3% of the articles had at least one author with a known food industry link.

More than two thirds of the authors also had some type of food industry connection. In total, 68.5% of the authors had an industry tie.

Many of these links were not listed in the research papers. The team found that 71.1% of the authors with industry links had those links found through public information instead of the articles themselves.

The study also found a link between industry ties and the way ultra processed foods were discussed. Articles with authors who had food industry links were more likely to talk about or support possible benefits of ultra processed foods.

Ultra processed foods include many packaged snacks, candy, sweet drinks and ready to eat foods. The Nova system groups foods based on how and why they are made.

Researcher Erica M LaFata said the study does not mean that all criticism of Nova is wrong. Some researchers may have valid concerns about the food system.

The researchers said readers should know about industry links when looking at nutrition studies. They also called for more openness from researchers and journals.

The study does not show that industry links make research findings false. Instead, it points to the need for clear information about possible conflicts when people read nutrition research.

The findings may also be important for people who make health and food rules. Knowing about research funding and industry links can help them better understand the evidence.