The Non-UPF Verification Process: From Submission to Certification

Non-UPF Verification is WISEcode's third-party certification program for food and beverage brands whose products meet the WISEcode Standard for non-ultra-processed status. Verified products earn the right to display the Non-UPF certification mark on-pack and in marketing materials. This article walks through the end-to-end process from initial submission through certification renewal.

Who can apply

Any brand with a packaged food or beverage product can submit for verification. There is no minimum company size, no minimum SKU count, and no requirement that the product currently meet the Standard — many submissions are made specifically to identify the gap and inform reformulation work. Both finished products and pre-launch formulations can be evaluated.

What you'll need before you start

• Full ingredient declaration exactly as it appears (or will appear) on-pack, in descending order by weight.
• Nutrition Facts panel with serving size, calories, and macronutrient breakdown.
• Added-sugar disclosure as a separate line item (required to evaluate the 20% energy threshold).
• Manufacturing or processing description for any ingredient where the processing method affects classification (e.g., expeller-pressed vs. solvent-extracted oils, native vs. modified starches, traditional vs. industrial fermentation).
• Front-of-pack imagery at production resolution (helpful but not required for evaluation).
• SKU/UPC number if the product is already in market.

Step 1: Submit the product

Submissions are made through the brand portal. For each SKU you submit, you'll complete a short intake form (brand, product name, target market, intended on-pack claims) and attach the documentation listed above. Multiple SKUs can be submitted in a single batch.

Step 2: Initial scoring

Once you submit the full ingredient declaration and complete Nutrition Facts panel, our scoring engine returns a verification result within minutes. The output is a complete scorecard showing:

• The base score from weighted ingredient processing levels
• Added-sugar penalty (if applicable)
• Any Red Flag (Level 4) ingredients identified
• Total score and tier (Minimal, Light, Moderate, Ultra, Super-Ultra)
• Pass/fail status against the Non-UPF threshold

Step 3: Pass or remediate

If the product passes (score in the Minimal or Light tier with no Red Flags), it moves directly to Step 4.

If the product does not pass, you'll receive a remediation report identifying the specific ingredients, sugar load, or Red Flags responsible for the gap. You can either:

• Reformulate and resubmit (no additional submission fee within the same verification cycle), or
• Withdraw the SKU from the verification cycle and continue to use the scoring data internally for product development.

For practical reformulation strategy, see Reformulation Roadmap: Moving Toward Non-UPF Status.

Step 4: Documentation review

For products that pass initial scoring, our team verifies the ingredient declaration against your supplier specifications and confirms processing-method claims with documentation. This is the deepest part of the review and is what distinguishes Non-UPF Verification from a self-attested claim.

Step 5: Certification

Once documentation is verified, the SKU is certified. You'll receive:

• A certificate of verification with a unique verification ID
• Brand-mark assets (the Non-UPF Verified badge in print and digital formats)
• Usage guidelines for on-pack and marketing applications
• A listing in the public Non-UPF Verified registry on the WISEcode website

Timelines

When the full ingredient list and Nutrition Facts panel are provided on first submission, Non-UPF verification is completed within minutes. Larger portfolios, products requiring supplier follow-up, or formulations that go through a remediation loop may take longer. We'll communicate expected milestones at each step.

Renewal and ongoing compliance

Verification is tied to a specific formulation. If you change an ingredient, supplier, or processing method that affects scoring, the SKU must be re-verified before continuing to use the mark. Annual re-verification is required to maintain the certification and registry listing — we'll send a renewal reminder ahead of the expiration date.

Cost

Pricing is based on portfolio size and complexity. Contact the verification team via the brand portal for a quote tailored to your SKU count.

Next steps

Ready to submit, or have questions about whether your product is a candidate? Submit a request and a member of our team will get you started.