Tag: Processed foods explained

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, cake mixes fall into a category of processed foods with added ingredients for flavor and texture. The truth about whether they are "highly" processed depends on how processing is defined and the specific brand in question. While a cake mix offers convenience, it's the industrial formulation and ingredient list that reveals the true extent of its processing.

According to a 2019 study, diets high in ultra-processed foods are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This raises the question for many discerning consumers: are ravioli ultra-processed food? The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no, depending heavily on the ingredients and manufacturing methods used.

According to the USDA, a processed food is any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to a procedure that alters it from its natural state, which technically means yes, peanut butter is considered as processed food. However, the degree of processing varies widely by brand and ingredients, leading to confusion about its healthiness.