What is upcycled food?

The Upcycled Food Association recently unveiled the first official definition for the term “upcycled food.” This term, the result of the association’s work with a task force comprised of researchers from Harvard University and Drexel University, as well as representatives from nonprofits ReFED, National Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund, among others, will serve to, “unify the industry, clarify the vision, and serve as a center of gravity for the upcycled movement,” according to Ben Gray, chief operations officer at the Upcycled Food Association.

The definition is as follows: “Upcycled foods use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment."

This handy infographic created by the Upcycled Food Association is a great reference for explaining upcycled food and its potential with regard to both the market and the planet.