The processed foods They are those that were manufactured through an industrial process before reaching the supermarket gondola. Processed foods contain preservatives, acidulants and chemical products that make them last more days (even weeks) as if they were fresh, just harvested (in the case of fruits and vegetables) or freshly manufactured or baked in the case of breads, donuts or puddings. Chemical products and artificial substances are added to support the entire time of distribution and permanence in the supermarket until reaching the consumer’s home. From the time they are made to when they reach the table to eat, it can take weeks or even months. Production processes are often long and in locations far from the urban centers where processed foods are sold.
A controversy has recently arisen pointing out that it is a paradox to say processed foods since more and more specialists consider that they are not food but rather laboratory products, due to their reduced or non-existent nutritional content.
The processed foods They are not fresh but they seem so, due to the treatment they receive in the factories. Processed foods (which have a high component of sodium and trans and saturated fats) are more of a commercial product with many years of research to lower costs and a combination of chemicals than a natural product from the field or from a natural environment. The combination of artificial substances is made to lower costs since the production and distribution is massive and many low-income people are the ones who usually consume them.
The opposite of processed foods are homemade foods or natural foods, which are made as they are cooked at home, without long processes and with natural products and go from the field to the kitchen (practically immediately) and to the table.
food cans: cans of fried tomato, tomato for sauce, cans of lentils, spinach, beets, flowerpots, etc.
donuts: They are produced industrially with a long process and have many preservatives so that they last for weeks before being opened. Packaged pastries are processed food.
To put in the microwave: Foods such as pizzas, pizzas, stews, sandwiches to buy and put directly in the microwave are industrially processed.
Package or boat ice creams: Packaged or canned ice creams are industrially manufactured and distributed to supermarkets.
frozen: Vegetables, potatoes, chicken legs, frozen supreme (among others) are examples of industrially processed foods.
Sweet bread: Puddings, sweet breads, cakes that are often sold in supermarkets are industrially processed. Most have dyes, mimics of other natural products, and preservatives. Homemade sweet breads are made with orange blossom water and natural products without chemical additives or long production processes.
soups in envelope: Knorr-type soups in sachets (in Campbell cans) and others are industrially processed products. We also include Chinese noodles or noodles here.
butter and margarine: Most margarines found on the market are highly processed products made from refined vegetable oils and other artificial substances.
Refined vegetable oils are notable for their high content of trans fats, a class of toxic fat that is formed during the hydrogenation process used to make these oils.
Cold cuts and sausages: matambres, hams, cheeses, chorizos, blood sausages, are examples of foods processed with various types of fats and preservatives.
oils: The oils (except the virgin ones) are processed foods since the seeds are distilled to obtain the oil and other products are added to it.