Addressing Ultra-Processed Foods: Public Health Education, Communication, and Food Environment Policies

The growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has emerged as a major global public health concern, driven by food environments that prioritize convenience, affordability, aggressive marketing, and widespread accessibility. Ultra-processed foods are increasingly replacing traditional and minimally processed diets across diverse populations and age groups worldwide. This dietary transition has been associated with rising rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and adverse mental health outcomes. Beyond health consequences, UPF-driven food systems contribute to environmental degradation, food insecurity, and widening social inequities. Increasing attention is now being given to the role of public health education, food literacy, health communication, and behavioral interventions in helping individuals and communities make informed dietary choices. Strengthening nutrition education and promoting healthier food environments are essential components of broader efforts to support sustainable, equitable, and health-promoting food systems globally.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance understanding of how public health education, health promotion, communication strategies, and food environment policies can address the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and support healthier food environments and dietary behaviors. This collection aims to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the social, behavioral, environmental, and psychological factors that shape food choices and influence dietary patterns across populations.

The Research Topic particularly seeks contributions examining food literacy, nutrition education, social marketing, stakeholder engagement, digital health communication, and community-based interventions designed to improve public awareness and reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods. We welcome contributions that examine the role of the UPF industry in shaping food environments, public policy and consumer perceptions. We also encourage submissions evaluating policies, educational initiatives and governance strategies designed to improve food environments, address health inequities, and support informed, healthy, and sustainable food choices across diverse populations.

By integrating perspectives from public health, nutrition, psychology, education, communication, sustainability, and policy, this Research Topic aims to support innovative and evidence-based approaches that promote healthier food systems and contribute to long-term population health and well-being.

Suitable themes for manuscripts include, but are not limited to:

• Food literacy and nutrition education interventions targeting ultra-processed food consumption;
• Health communication and risk communication related to unhealthy dietary behaviors;
• Social marketing approaches addressing food choices and consumer behavior;
• Digital health education and social media influences on dietary practices;
• School-, university-, workplace-, and community-based health promotion initiatives related to nutrition;
• Stakeholder engagement and co-creation approaches in food system and nutrition interventions;
• Public perceptions, awareness, and understanding of ultra-processed foods;
• Social inequalities, vulnerable populations, and disparities in access to healthy diets and nutrition education;
• Behavioral, psychological, and environmental determinants of ultra-processed food consumption;
• Policy interventions, food labeling, and regulatory strategies to promote healthier food environments;
• Evaluation of public health promotion programs and nutrition-related educational campaigns;
• Sustainable food systems, environmental impacts of dietary patterns, and public engagement in sustainable nutrition practices.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Ultra-processed foods, dietary behaviour, behaviour change, public health nutrition, food environment, health promotion, population health, nutrition policy, food systems, health inequalities, obesity prevention, non-communicable diseases

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.