What Counts As Ultra-Processed Food? It’s Too Complicated.

Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs for short, are suddenly the hot health concept — the new antihero in global diets. The topic is exploding both in scientific literature and on social media. There’s even an AI system to help consumers select less-processed foods while shopping.

But once you get past the important and obvious idea that junk food is harmful, the concept of ultra-processed becomes hazy and confusing.