Food Integrity Collective

The next installment of FutureKind with special guest Kia Ruiz airs this weekend with the New Moon. ???? In this episode, Kia Ruiz and?Megan Westgate?dive into the topics of interdependence, reverence, humility, self-regulation, and of course, how it all relates to food. Don't miss it ?? https://lnkd.in/gDaRpT-8 #foodshouldnourishlife #FutureKind #podcast #interdependence

It was great to chat with Adrianne DeLuca at Expo West! Key topics from this conversation: ? "Triage moment" for the food industry ? What's the status of the new Non-UPF Verified label? ? What are the larger aims of the Food Integrity Collective, and where is Non-UPF nested within that? Find it here ?? https://lnkd.in/ggEJX2i5 #expowest #nonupfverified #foodshouldnourishlife

?? The most preventable global #health crisis starts with what's on your plate. Diet-related disease stands as the #1 cause of death worldwide, yet most consumers feel powerless to navigate our complex food system. After transforming #GMO awareness with their now-iconic butterfly seal on 63,000+ products, the Non-GMO Project team is taking aim at another critical food issue: ultra-processed foods #UPFs with Non-UPF Verified. ??? In our latest episode Kiira Heymann, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Non-GMO Project and Food Integrity Collective, shares about the organization's journey toward launching their new non-ultra-processed food verification program. This isn't just another #label— it's a carefully considered intervention designed to reconnect people with their #food in profound ways. When 70% of American store shelves hold ultra-processed products engineered with ingredients banned in other countries, the stakes couldn't be higher. ??? What makes this effort particularly fascinating is how it challenges the very foundation of food certification itself. Rather than creating another "shortcut to trust", the team is exploring how to eliminate the need for certifications entirely by rebuilding true #transparency in our food system. Their research shows 81% of North Americans are concerned about questionable ingredients in their food, yet only 17% feel knowledgeable about the topic—a gap this initiative aims to close. ?? Beyond ingredients, this movement addresses the cognitive impact of ultra-processed foods. Studies show these products can significantly impair brain function in as little as 30 days, creating a troubling cycle where the very foods engineered to be addictive are simultaneously diminishing our capacity to make better choices. By helping consumers understand and avoid ultra-processed foods, the certification offers a pathway toward better physical and mental wellbeing. ?? Currently in its pilot phase with 20 pioneering brands, the non-UPF verification program aims to launch products by fall 2025. The certification represents more than just another shopping guide—it's an invitation to experience the profound difference real food makes in how we feel, think, and connect with our world. https://lnkd.in/d4Ub_YkG

?? LISTEN: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast with our Director of Strategic Partnerships Kiira Heymann is live now! In the convo: - Why introduce another label? - Why non-ultraprocessed food? - Why should consumers demand more from their food system? "This isn't just another label—it's a carefully considered intervention designed to reconnect people with their food in profound ways. When 70% of American store shelves hold ultra-processed products engineered with ingredients banned in other countries, the stakes couldn't be higher." Podcast ??: https://lnkd.in/gRwJikjq #nonupf #ultraprocessedfood #upf

This clip from one of the latest installments of The Checkout Substack from Errol Schweizer stuck with us as it contains so much of the essence of the Food Integrity Collective. ?? The food system we hope to bring into being is one in which food nourishes all life on Earth based on the understanding that "all flourishing is mutual." The current food system is based on a paradigm of relentless competition that fuels systems of extraction and exploitation. Despite producing SO much, a scarcity mindset continues to dominate. It doesn't make sense – and it's not a path we can continue to walk. How can we, as individuals, companies, and organizations, begin to create a new cycle rooted in the well-being of all life? What do we have to believe is possible in order to do so? ?? Read the full newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gKQ-Ayve #foodshouldnourishlife #allflourishingismutual

???? ICYMI: FutureKind with special guest Mark Schatzker is live now! Listen ?? https://lnkd.in/gGBJN8Hf #futurekind #shouldshouldnourishlife

"The food system is responsible for an estimated one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions driving this [climate] crisis. One key reason: the industrial food chain and its ultra-processed foods are deeply dependent on fossil fuels." -- Anna Lappé At the Food Integrity Collective we believe that connecting people to their own wellbeing through food is a crucial first step toward building a movement of eaters that care about the many ways that their food choices have rippling impacts. And one of the big opportunities we see with launching our new Non-UPF Verified program is being able to pull eaters into deeper dialogue around topics like this one -- we all need to be connecting the dots between our industrial, ultraprocessed food system and its direct impact on our health and the health of our planet. Eating a less processed diet can be a stepping stone toward a much deeper engagement with food and with ourselves. Thanks Global Alliance for the Future of Food for all of the good work you're doing in this space, and to Civil Eats for elevating it all.

????? The newest episode of the FutureKind podcast with special guest Mark Schatzker, author of The Dorito Effect, is live! Listen as Mark and Megan discuss the power of flavor and how the food industry is manipulating our brain's intelligence to make us crave calories while leaving us hungry in other crucial ways. Find FutureKind on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gDaRpT-8 #FutureKind #podcast #foodshouldnourishlife #thedoritoeffect Megan Westgate

We are thrilled to announce the successful closing of our $9 million Series A financing! This vote of confidence in our regenerative business model is a significant milestone for us, our investors, our retail partners, and, most importantly, the communities we serve ?? This success only strengthens our mission to continue making a positive impact! ?? Thanks to AgFunder and Jennifer Marston for this article ???? Heather K. Terry | Saida Abdala | Marcia Bell | Kari Janapareddi | Jessica Myhr | Shafia Abdala | Melissa E. | John Harris Alexander

We're so lucky to have GoodSAM, PBC in our current Food Integrity cohort! This reflects the food system we want to see come into being. ???? Bravo, Heather K. Terry!