According to the East Carolina University ECU Physicians, the NOVA food classification system groups all foods "according to the extent and purpose of the processing they undergo. Food processing as identified by NOVA involved physical, biological and chemical processes that occur after foods are separated from nature, and before they are consumed or used in the preparation of dishes and meals."[1]
See also: Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks
According to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research:
“ | Ultra-Processed Foods: The term comes from the NOVA food classification system, a system created to classify foods based on how they are processed and for what purpose (extending shelf life, fortifying with vitamins and minerals, creating ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat foods, etc.). They classify food into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods. ultra-processed foods are defined as “formulations of several ingredients which, besides salt, sugar, oils, and fats, include food substances not used in culinary preparations, in particular flavours, colours sweeteners, emulsifiers, and other additives used to imitate sensorial qualities of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations or to disguise undesirable qualities of the final product.”[2] | ” |
In addition, according to numerous peer-reviewed medical science journals, ultra-processed food (often called merely processed food by laymen and others) poses numerous, serious health risks.[3] PubMed has over 1,800 medical journal articles related to the health risks of ultra-processed/processed food.[4]
For more information, please see: Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health risks