ultra-processed

American  

[uhl-truh-pros-est] / ˈʌl trəˈprɒs ɛst /

Also highly processed

adjective

1. being, consisting of, or relating to a food product whose form and substance have gone through multiple processes of modification along with the addition of such ingredients as sugars, salt, fats, and artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

   My intake of ultra-processed foods is down to an occasional hotdog at the ballpark and one weekly order of chicken nuggets.

   The study found that participants eating an ultra-processed diet ate faster.

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Etymology

Origin of ultra-processed

First recorded in 1970–75

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ultra-processed

Rather than treating all ultra-processed foods as equally harmful, the findings support evaluating foods according to their nutritional content and specific health associations.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

The researchers found that higher consumption of whole grains, fiber, dairy products, and calcium from ultra-processed food sources was associated with a lower incidence of colorectal cancer.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

The team also examined what might happen when ultra-processed foods were replaced with less processed alternatives.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

However, the findings revealed an important distinction: Some types of ultra-processed foods were linked to lower cancer rates, while others were associated with higher rates.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

A small preliminary study from UC San Francisco adds to mounting evidence that eating fewer ultra-processed foods may help reduce symptoms of depression.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

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