Highly processed foodstuffs – Definition and examples of less valuable food products

Our forebears consumed food they cultivated and prepared themselves, primarily relying on seasonal produce. Thanks to modern technological advancements, we now have access to entirely different food items, such as ready meals and corn snacks, but it's important to recognize that these are ultra-processed foods.

Highly processed foods are a category of food products that undergo extensive industrial processing to extend shelf life, simplify preparation, or enhance appearance. These items often include artificial additives, preservatives, and other substances not naturally found in food. Unlike natural or minimally processed foods, highly processed foods cannot be produced in a home setting.

Sausages serve as a prime example of highly processed foods. You cannot discern any meat pieces within them, and their composition remains ambiguous. Meat, which is one of their ingredients, loses its nutritional value during extensive processing. Ready-made pasta sauces also fall into this category. We would not independently add ingredients such as acidity regulators or blackcurrant extracts, which are often found in tomato sauces. Instead, whey powder or milk powder is used in cheese sauces, which lack nutritional value due to technological processing. Certain candies are also classified as highly processed foods, as they contain large amounts of additives like colorants, emulsifiers, or hardened vegetable fats. These are not health-promoting, so it is advisable to avoid them and prepare sweets at home. Unfortunately, rice crackers and various cereal flakes or milk crisps also belong to this category, as they undergo various technological processes, such as extrusion, which involves high temperature and pressure, leading to a loss of nutrients. Similarly, potatoes used to make chips contain high levels of salt and harmful trans fats.

At home, we utilize various food processing methods, including grinding, pasteurization, salting, cooking, baking, and freezing. Some products are difficult to consume without proper preparation. However, naturally sourced foods that undergo minimal processing are more nutritious and significantly healthier. In industrial settings, food can be processed using advanced technologies such as freeze-drying, mechanical grinding, extrusion, sterilization, modified atmosphere packaging, spray drying, infrared treatment, or membrane filtration. These techniques enable the production of diverse food items but often result in the addition of preservatives and a reduction in nutritional value. Many of these substances can have adverse health effects, including allergies, headaches, skin inflammation, or seasonal allergies. Food technologists continuously innovate, leading to the creation of products that would have been unimaginable decades ago. These are typically highly processed and contain harmful additives that are best avoided. The optimal approach is to prepare meals at home or choose more natural products with minimal chemical additives.