The new secretary for Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called out "highly chemically processed foods" as a major target in his war on chronic disease, like diabetes and obesity, according to the Associated Press.
But do you know what the label "ultraprocessed" really means?
First, it's important to understand that not all processed foods are created equal. According to Harvard Medical School, there are three key terms to understand:
* Unprocessed or minimally processed foods. These are in their natural state with the nutrients intact. A minimally processed food may be altered by drying, crushing, cooking, freezing, or pasteurizing.
* Processed foods. These foods are altered from their natural state with the addition of salt, oil, sugar, or other components — for example, canned vegetables. Most foods in this category have only a handful of ingredients.
* Highly processed or ultraprocessed food. These foods contain many added ingredients (think sugar, salt, fat, dyes, and preservatives) and components like artificial flavors and stabilizers. Ultraprocessed foods are made with substances extracted from foods, like starches and added sugars. Deli meats, most prepackaged foods, and soda all qualify.
But the degree to which ultraprocessed foods impact our health is difficult to say. According to the Associated Press, the level of processing alone is not a reliable indicator of a food's nutritional value — low-sodium canned tomato sauce and baby formula are both highly processed, but also nutrient dense.
Still, numerous studies point to some kind of connection between certain types of ultraprocessed foods and negative health effects. In an interview with the Associated Press, Aviva Musicus, science director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, advises people to worry less about labels like "ultraprocessed" and instead pay attention to ingredients. She recommends practicing moderation with foods that contain added sugar or high sodium.
