KOMPAS.com – When shopping at the supermarket, you may often avoid aisles filled with processed or processed foods processed foods.
However, recently, a new term has emerged in the world of nutrition, namely ultra-processed food or ultra processed food.
What exactly is the difference between regular processed foods and ultra-processed foods, and how do they affect our health?
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What’s that processed foods?
By definition, processed food is food that has been changed from its original form. According to the International Food Information Council, processing includes any intentional change to food before it is ready for consumption.
Processing includes heating, pasteurization, canning and drying. In fact, simple processes such as cooling also include processing.
Most of the foods we consume every day have gone through some form of processing, for example whole grains or frozen vegetables.
However, not all processed foods are bad. Many processed foods still retain their nutritional value, so they are still healthy to consume.
Processing can be used to:
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- making food safe, for example milk is pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria
- making food fit for use, such as pressing grain to produce oil
- preserving food or helping it last longer, such as canned or frozen food
- changing the taste of food, such as adding salt or sweetener
- make ready-to-eat meals and snacks
What’s that ultra processed food?
Ultra-processed or food concept ultra processed food first introduced by Brazilian nutrition researcher, Carlos A. Monteiro, in 2009.
In a classification system known as NOVA, ultra-processed foods are defined as industrial formulations with five or more ingredients.
ultra processed food illustration. Ultra-processed foods like this usually contain excessive sugar, salt and fat. Typically, these foods involve adding sugar, salt, oil, and other additives not used in home cooking.
Examples of ultra-processed foods include packaged snacks, fast food and fizzy drinks.
Sausages are also ultra-processed foods because real food ground chicken or beef, then added seasonings, such as salt, as well as preservatives.
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The final stage of processing is called tertiary processing. often adding ingredients to improve the product’s taste, texture, and shelf life.
Health impacts ultra processed food
Research shows that consumption of ultra-processed foods can increase the risk of various health problems, including obesity and cancer.
