2026 Good Food Awards: Standards Updated
Good Food Awards Announce 2026 Category Criteria Updates Following Industry-Wide Consultation
San Francisco, CA (June 23, 2025) — The Good Food Foundation has announced updated criteria for several of its awards categories for the 2026 Good Food Awards (GFA). The updates were made following a thorough 2025 review process involving regulatory review and input from subject matter experts and a wide range of industry stakeholders—including past winning Crafters, certifying organizations, and regional and national trade associations.
Each year, the GFAs set the standard for excellence in taste, sustainability, and social responsibility across America’s craft food and drink community. This 2025 review ensured the standards remain rigorous, relevant, and reflective of current best practices.
“We believe that for standards to remain meaningful, they must evolve alongside the values and advancements of our food community,” said Nora Weiser, Executive Director of the Good Food Foundation. “This year’s review process was both deep and inclusive, affirming our commitment to integrity, transparency, and leadership in sustainable food systems. These thoughtful updates reflect what matters most in 2026 to both Crafters and conscious consumers.”
In collaboration with expert advisors and practitioners across 18 categories, changes were adopted in nine categories for the 2026 Awards cycle. “As a longtime GFA participant, I was grateful to be included in the review process,” said Christa Cotton of El Guapo Bitters. “The team’s willingness to listen to Crafters, incorporate feedback, and stay grounded in real-world application sets the Good Food Awards apart. It’s a rare and refreshing kind of collaboration.”
Categories not listed below were carefully reviewed, but no changes were deemed necessary at this time.
Summary of 2026 Good Food Awards Category Changes
Charcuterie
For 2026 Entries: Farms should have certification such as Animal Welfare Approved or Global Animal Partnership Level 4+.
For 2027 Entries: Animal Welfare Approved or Global Animal Partnership Level 4+ required.
Process Update: Enhanced vetting for co-packing; Crafters must use their own recipes.
Cheese
Products must adhere to FDA Standards of Identity (21 CFR 133) for cheese. If not defined in 21 CFR 133, the product must be made with legally pasteurized mammalian milk, or, if made with unpasteurized milk must meet minimum time and temperature requirements for curing defined under that standard.
Chocolate
Chocolatiers must prioritize sustainability in waste management, including water conservation and composting.
Subcategory Change: Added chocolate beverages.
Terminology Update: Replaced “bean to bar” with “cacao to chocolate.”
Cider
Emphasis on sustainable sourcing and low-irrigation practices, with preference for local fruit use.
Subcategory Change: Updated descriptions in alignment with American Cider Association.
Coffee
New delineation between seasonal and year-round offerings to promote market-ready entries.
Drinks
Must be free of natural flavorings and colors.
Elixirs
Only traceable alcohol bases are allowed; neutral grain spirits (NGS) are no longer accepted.
Oils
COOC certification is no longer required.
Tasting Process: Enhanced filtering for flawed oils.
Pickles
Subcategory Change: Updated category descriptions for clarity.
The updated criteria go into effect for the 2026 Good Food Awards entry period, opening July 7, 2025.
This year’s category review process was collaborative, inviting input from over 50 crafters, subject matter experts, and impacted stakeholders. The Good Food Foundation is grateful to the many organizations who helped ensure industry alignment including: Brewers Association, Animal Welfare Approved, American Cheese Society, American Cider Association, Northwest Chocolate Festival,The Civic Kitchen, UC Davis, Faire, Market Hall Foods, Bi-Rite Markets, Slow Fish, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
For a full list of category standards and application information, please visit: goodfoodfdn.org/awards