On Nutrition: Processed or ultra-processed? – Hartford Courant

By Barbara Intermill, Tribune News Service

When I hear the term “ultra-processed” food, my mind goes directly to what I see in most convenience stores. Sodas, energy drinks, candy bars, pastries and cheese puffs come to mind. These items contain more than their fair share of sugar and/or salt and are sorely lacking in essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

Not everything in a package is ultra-processed, however. In fact, many healthful foods are processed, meaning they have been altered from their original state in some way. From preserving meat to home-canning fruit and vegetables, we’ve been processing our food for centuries, says the Institute of Food Technologists ( ift.org ). Today, everything from bread and cut vegetables to canned tuna and pea