In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Megan Westgate—founder and CEO of the Non GMO Project—to introduce her groundbreaking new certification: Non UPF Verified. With nearly two decades of experience in food integrity, Megan unpacks why ultra processed foods are driving a global health crisis, how the new standard was designed to fill a critical gap in the marketplace, and what it means for brands, retailers, investors, and consumers alike.

Megan shares the origin story of the Non GMO Project—starting from a laptop on her bedroom floor with no desk and no salary—and draws powerful parallels to the cultural moment we're in now around ultra processed foods. She explains how the Non UPF Verified standard was designed to find a meaningful middle ground: not rubber-stamping all industrially produced food, but also not making the bar so high that no brand can realistically achieve it. The standard requires that at least 70% of a verified product's ingredients be minimally processed, prohibits ultra processed ingredients like hexane extraction and non-nutritive sweeteners, and sets category-specific limits on refined added sugars.

The conversation dives into what ultra processed really means (and why the definition is more contested than you'd think), how this standard differs from organic and Non GMO, and why 52% of consumers now say degree of processing is their number one concern when buying food—more than GMOs or organic. Megan also shares early momentum: 300+ brands on the waitlist, 115 products already verified through the pilot, and early adopters including Amy's, Simple Mills, and Spindrift.

Whether you're a founder formulating a new product, a brand considering certification, or a buyer trying to make sense of the UPF conversation, this episode is essential listening.

Listen in as they discuss:

How the Non GMO Project started from scratch—one laptop, no desk, no salary—and what made it take off
What "ultra processed" actually means and why the definition matters so much
The Non UPF Verified standard: prohibited ingredients, the 70% minimally processed requirement, and category-specific sugar limits
How Non UPF Verified differs from organic, Non GMO, and clean label claims
Why 52% of consumers cite degree of processing as their top concern—surpassing GMOs and organic
The business case for early-stage brands to formulate for this standard from day one
What the certification process looks like: document-based, no on-site inspections, no testing required
How legacy CPG brands are responding (spoiler: new product launches, not reformulations)
Early pilot brands: Amy's, Simple Mills, and Spindrift
Where to find the standard, consumer research, and how to get started at non-ultra-processed.org

Episode Links:
Megan Westgate – Founder & CEO, Non-GMO Project + Non-UPF Verified
🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganethompson/
🔗Non UPF Verified LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/non-upf-verified/
🌐 Website: https://www.nonultraprocessed.org/

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Episode music by Super Fantastics