{"id":4855,"date":"2026-02-12T11:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T12:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=4855"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:06:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T15:06:59","slug":"taking-your-first-bite-of-upcycled-food-understanding-the-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/taking-your-first-bite-of-upcycled-food-understanding-the-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Your First Bite of Upcycled Food: Understanding the Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

In 2023, U.S. households, retailers, and restaurants wasted approximately 73.9 million tons of food\u2014about 31% of the food supply, valued at over $382 billion \u2014according to the nonprofit ReFED.<\/a> \u00a0That wasted food accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>, nearly five times more than aviation. Now, a growing movement is transforming ingredients that would otherwise end up in landfills into safe, nutritious products you can find at your local grocery store.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the world of upcycled foods. Getting comfortable with this new food choice starts with understanding the certification system designed to help you identify food that would otherwise rot in landfills and fields.<\/p>\n

This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will receive a small commission on the sale, which helps fund our work.<\/em><\/p>\n

What Is Upcycled Food?<\/h2>\n

The Upcycled Food Association<\/a> (UFA), a nonprofit formed in 2019, developed the official definition: \u201cUpcycled 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

In practical terms, upcycled foods are made from ingredients such as surplus produce deemed too \u201cugly\u201d<\/a> for retail shelves, spent grains from brewing, fruit pulp left over from juice production, or imperfect produce that don\u2019t meet aesthetic standards. Rather than being composted, fed to animals, or sent to landfills, these perfectly safe ingredients can get a second life in new food products.<\/p>\n

The Upcycled Certified Mark: Your Guide at the Grocery Store<\/h2>\n

Today, only one third-party certification exists globally for upcycled foods: Upcycled Certified<\/a>, which is administered by Where Food Comes From, Inc., a leading food verification organization. The program launched in 2021 as the world\u2019s first certification standard for upcycled food ingredients and products.<\/p>\n

The certification has grown rapidly. As of 2024, 568 products were certified to the standard<\/a>, a 17% increase from the previous year. Since the program\u2019s inception, 806 products have achieved certification across 105 companies operating in 14 countries<\/a>. These certified products have collectively diverted approximately 1.2 million tons of food waste, the equivalent of 248 million bags of groceries.<\/p>\n

What the Certification Requires<\/h3>\n

A product that earns the Upcycled Certified mark meets rigorous standards that can give you the confidence to chow down.<\/p>\n