Hardware Podcasts

#239 - The New Non-UPF Verification with Megan Westgate

The Startup CPG Podcast · 10 Mar 2026 · 43m · Episode 272

What this episode covers

Megan Westgate, founder and CEO of the Non-GMO Project and the new Non UPF Verified program, explains the rationale and mechanics of a new certification designed to identify minimally processed packaged foods. She details how the standard requires at least 70% of ingredients to be minimally processed, prohibits ultra-processed additives like hexane extraction and non-nutritive sweeteners, and sets category-specific limits on refined sugars. Westgate shares that 52% of consumers now prioritize degree of processing over GMO status or organic claims, driving early adoption by brands like Amy's, Simple Mills, and Spindrift. She contrasts the document-based verification process with traditional inspections and discusses how legacy CPG companies are responding through new product launches rather than reformulation.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Non-GMO Project, Amy's, Simple Mills, Spindrift, Linkage
Products
Non UPF Verified
Also
British Medical Journal

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