• About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Subscribe Now
  • Media Kit
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Food Business Gulf & Middle East
  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Industry Update
    • Ingredients
    • Sweets & Confectionery
    • Processing & Packaging
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Meat & Poultry
    • Drinks & Beverages
    • Dairy Products
    • Organic Products
  • Country Update
  • Digital Magazines
    • Publications
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Industry Update
    • Ingredients
    • Sweets & Confectionery
    • Processing & Packaging
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Meat & Poultry
    • Drinks & Beverages
    • Dairy Products
    • Organic Products
  • Country Update
  • Digital Magazines
    • Publications
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
No Result
View All Result
Food Business Gulf & Middle East
No Result
View All Result
Home News

UPFs: Rethinking the Classification of Plant-Based Products

by Food Business News Desk
4 months ago
in News
0
UPFs: Rethinking the Classification of Plant-Based Products

Planteneers Whitepaper Takes Hard Look at the NOVA System

The existing classification system for processed foods often categorizes protein-rich plant-based foods as ultra processed and therefore unhealthy. But according to nutrition experts these ultra processed foods, UPFs for short, need to be viewed more discriminatingly. A recent whitepaper by Planteneers gives an overview of UPFs and their role in modern nutrition, especially in the selection of plant-based foods.

The paper looks at the controversial NOVA system, which categorizes foods based exclusively on their degree of processing. This four-stage system differentiates between unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed ingredients, processed foods, and ultra processed foods or UPFs. Rebecca Bohlmann, Planteneers Product Manager and co-author of the whitepaper, notes that “Given the increasing importance of plant-based alternatives, the question arises as to whether a classification that is based exclusively on levels of processing, while ignoring parameters like nutrition or product composition, is still appropriate.”

The Degree of Processing Is No Indicator of Health Benefits or Disbenefits

For example, the NOVA system classifies freshly-baked bread as a Group III “processed food” regardless of whether it is made of white or full-grain flour. But this distinction is very significant from a health perspective. Organic soy drink consisting only of water and soybeans likewise falls in Group III. If enriched with vitamin B12, per the NOVA system it counts as ultra-processed and therefore falls in Group IV, which should not be eaten. By contrast, the NOVA concept proceeds from the assumption that unprocessed foods are inherently healthier by nature. “From our perspective it is vital to refine the categorization framework to focus on nutritional value and evidence-based health outcomes, instead of looking only at the degree of processing of a food,” says Bohlmann.

For example, it should be recognized that certain processing methods like enrichment and fermentation improve both food safety and nutritional content. “One approach that offers nutritional and functional advantages is the integration of wholefoods like vegetables and legumes in plant-based products,” says Bohlmann. “The demand for innovative products of this nature continues to grow. Another approach is upgrading products by enriching them with essential minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. By combining these approaches with transparent education, plant-based alternatives can be greatly enhanced from a nutritional point of view. In this way, all market actors can support the sustainable and successful switch to new sources of protein.” However, this requires a new food classification, especially for plant-based alternatives. The composition and nutritional content are key parameters that are indispensable for the optimum health categorization of food products.

 

The discussion around UPF offers an excellent opportunity to do some real consumer education, as well as improve the products so that more consumers choose plant-based alternatives. In doing so it is important to bring further clean-label solutions to market and ensure transparency in ingredient lists, since the ingredients play a central role in the context of the NOVA system. “In our estimation, the discussion around this topic will help the entire plant-based sector move forward and reach new milestones,” adds Bohlmann. “With this whitepaper we hope to drive the discussion further, and ideally spark more scientific studies on plant-based foods.”

The whitepaper is intended for important stakeholders like industry and science, as well as nutrition organizations and consumer associations. More at Whitepaper on UPFs

Post Views: 1,070
ShareShareTweetSendPin
Previous Post

UAE Restaurant Group Supports the UAE’s First Food Loss and Waste Baseline Study

Next Post

Gorilla Energy Names Global Beverage Veteran Ahmed Elafifi as CEO

Related Posts

News

AED 5.4 billion worth of deals sealed at Hosted Buyers Forum in First Two Day of Global Food Week

October 23, 2025
Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 Witnesses Double-Digit Growth as Middle East Becomes a Magnet for Investment, Talent and Technology
News

Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 Witnesses Double-Digit Growth as Middle East Becomes a Magnet for Investment, Talent and Technology

October 23, 2025
ADQCC launches new smart feature to enhance ‘Nutri-Mark’ initiative at GITEX
News

ADQCC launches new smart feature to enhance ‘Nutri-Mark’ initiative at GITEX

October 22, 2025
Khalifa Fund to showcase 10 Emirati ventures at ADIFE 2025, Driving innovation in food and beverage sector
News

Khalifa Fund to showcase 10 Emirati ventures at ADIFE 2025, Driving innovation in food and beverage sector

October 21, 2025
Africa Food Show Morocco 2025 Set to Transform Africa’s Agri-Food Landscape
News

Africa Food Show Morocco 2025 Set to Transform Africa’s Agri-Food Landscape

October 20, 2025
Gulfood Manufacturing 2025:  PROVISUR® Technologies showcases cutting-edge innovations from its brands for  industrial food processing
Industry Update

Gulfood Manufacturing 2025: PROVISUR® Technologies showcases cutting-edge innovations from its brands for industrial food processing

October 18, 2025
Next Post
Gorilla Energy Names Global Beverage Veteran Ahmed Elafifi as CEO

Gorilla Energy Names Global Beverage Veteran Ahmed Elafifi as CEO

July-Sept 2025 Edition

RECOMMENDED NEWS

3rd Edition of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Week to Be Held Next November with Wide International Participation

3rd Edition of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Week to Be Held Next November with Wide International Participation

1 year ago
Al Ain Farms Group and Finland’s FoodIQ Join Forces to Bring First-of-its-Kind Food-Tech to MENA

Al Ain Farms Group and Finland’s FoodIQ Join Forces to Bring First-of-its-Kind Food-Tech to MENA

4 months ago
FPS Food Process Solutions Adds Almarai as Major Customer Win for Poultry Processing in Saudi Arabia

FPS Food Process Solutions Adds Almarai as Major Customer Win for Poultry Processing in Saudi Arabia

6 months ago
Get to know the 7 Ps of the RoboOptimizer for I-Cut 122

Get to know the 7 Ps of the RoboOptimizer for I-Cut 122

11 months ago

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Country Update
  • Dairy Products
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events News
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Industry Update
  • Ingredients
  • Meat & Poultry
  • News
  • Organic Products
  • Processing & Packaging
  • Sponsored News
  • Sweets & Confectionery
  • Video
Food Business Gulf & Middle East

Food Business is the highest circulating quarterly published magazine in the Middle East.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • AED 5.4 billion worth of deals sealed at Hosted Buyers Forum in First Two Day of Global Food Week
  • Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 Witnesses Double-Digit Growth as Middle East Becomes a Magnet for Investment, Talent and Technology
  • LAKIDIS Flaker FR100 | In-House Vegetable Fat Trial | Cutting Vegetable Fat at -4°C & -22°C
  • How Smart Connected Deboning Machines Can Reshape Filleting Efficiency

Category

  • Country Update
  • Dairy Products
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events News
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Industry Update
  • Ingredients
  • Meat & Poultry
  • News
  • Organic Products
  • Processing & Packaging
  • Sponsored News
  • Sweets & Confectionery
  • Video

Recent News

AED 5.4 billion worth of deals sealed at Hosted Buyers Forum in First Two Day of Global Food Week

October 23, 2025
Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 Witnesses Double-Digit Growth as Middle East Becomes a Magnet for Investment, Talent and Technology

Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 Witnesses Double-Digit Growth as Middle East Becomes a Magnet for Investment, Talent and Technology

October 23, 2025
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Subscribe Now
  • Media Kit

© 2025 Food Business Gulf & Middle East

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Industry Update
    • Ingredients
    • Sweets & Confectionery
    • Processing & Packaging
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Meat & Poultry
    • Drinks & Beverages
    • Dairy Products
    • Organic Products
  • Country Update
  • Digital Magazines
    • Publications
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit

© 2025 Food Business Gulf & Middle East

Subscribe to our newsletter and online magazine

Subscription Form FG