Integrating Policies that Enable Minimally Processed Foods with Policies that Restrict Ultra-Processed Foods for Obesity and Noncommunicable Disease Prevention

Historically, many food policies for obesity and noncommunicable disease prevention focus on reducing the demand for ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This narrative review examines why integrating policies that enable minimally processed foods (MPFs) with UPF restriction is critical for improving diets and health. Despite progress from UPF-restrictive policies, MPF-related barriers like limited availability and accessibility, inadequate food preparation infrastructure, and limited time and cooking skills continue to undermine dietary quality. MPF-enabling measures like healthy food subsidies, public procurement standards, and communication campaigns can complement UPF-restrictive policies when implemented together, within or across policy domains. We describe how these policies intersect within food systems and how supportive legal and advocacy environments are key to amplify their collective impact. Enabling MPFs while restricting UPFs can produce mutually reinforcing effects on population diets. Rights-based legal frameworks and sustained advocacy are cornerstones for ensuring accountability, equity, and durability of these integrated approaches. Research should evaluate combined policy packages, examine equity implications, and inform the design of effective MPF-enabling and UPF-restrictive policies across food systems.