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

Example Sentences

These findings suggest that the harmful effects of ultra-processed foods may not be explained by calories or overall diet quality alone.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

Labels provide details on added sugar, salt, fat and carbohydrates per serving, which are often higher in ultra-processed foods than in less-processed options like plain oatmeal, nuts, beans and fresh or frozen produce.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

Mousavi is one of the brains behind fitness coach Joe Wickes' Killer protein bar, designed as a marketing stunt to draw attention to the ultra-processed nature of so-called health products.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Guernsey based nutritional therapist Carol Champion advised people with coeliac disease to eat more foods that were "naturally gluten free" such as potatoes, rice, oats and sweet potatoes, rather than buying too many ultra-processed foods.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Americans consume a diet heavy in calories that come from ultra-processed foods and are among the world's worst offenders in this category, according to government figures.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026