Highly processed foods, also known as ultra-processed foods, are foods that have been altered to include fats, starches, sugars, salts, and hydrogenated oils extracted from other foods. They are a patchwork of ingredients, additives, and preservatives, and they tend to be higher in calories, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. Highly processed foods contain few or no minimally processed or unprocessed ingredients. Examples of highly processed foods include sugary drinks, syrups, jams, chocolate, candies, potato chips, pretzels, sauces, dressings, gravies, ice cream, frozen desserts, bakery products like muffins and cakes, fast foods like French fries and burgers.

It is important to note that not all processed foods are unhealthy, and some processed foods may contain high levels of salt, sugar, and fat. For example, milk needs to be pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria, and some high-fiber breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread, and lower-fat yogurt can form part of a healthy diet. However, highly processed foods should be consumed in moderation, and it is best to follow a dietary pattern that consists mainly of whole, nutrient-dense foods to keep yourself healthy and reduce your risk of disease.