Understanding Food Processing Categories

The podcast details the NOVA food processing classification system, which outlines four categories of food based on the degree of processing. Category 1 includes unprocessed or minimally processed foods, which undergo basic preparation like washing or drying. Category 2 encompasses culinary ingredients used to prepare foods, such as oils, sugar, and spices. The third category consists of processed foods that combine categories one and two, while the fourth category, ultra-processed foods, refers to mass-produced items that undergo significant modification and use ingredients not recognizable as natural foods.