ultraprocessed

Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made mostly from substances extracted from foods or synthesized in laboratories, and they typically contain five or more ingredients. They usually include additives such as flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers, and other ingredients not commonly used in home cooking. In the NOVA classification system, these products fall into a fourth category, distinct from unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, and processed foods.

Originating in Brazil in the early 2000s, the term ultra-processed was developed by researchers led by Carlos Monteiro to describe a class of foods characterized by extensive processing and the inclusion of non-traditional ingredients. The framework emphasizes processing level rather than nutrient content alone, and it is widely used in epidemiological studies of dietary patterns and health outcomes.

Populations with higher intake of ultra-processed foods tend to have diets higher in added sugars, fats, and sodium and lower in dietary fiber and micronutrients. Observational studies have associated high consumption of ultra-processed foods with increased risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality, though causality cannot be established and findings are sensitive to confounding and study design.

Critics argue that the NOVA categories group a wide range of products that differ in nutritional quality and culinary context, and that labeling all ultra-processed foods as unhealthy can oversimplify dietary assessment. Some advocate focusing on overall dietary patterns and food processing as part of comprehensive nutrition policy, including reformulation, clearer labeling, and education.

Ultra-processed is a term used mainly in nutrition research and public health to describe a particular end of a spectrum of food processing and its potential health implications, rather than a single nutrient profile. It remains a topic of ongoing debate and study.