A new resource called TrueFood aims to help consumers understand the processing levels of popular foods. The tool uses a machine learning-powered database called GroceryDB, which categorizes over 50,000 foods into four processing levels based on the NOVA scale. Users can search for specific products or browse by food category to see their processing scores and ingredient breakdowns. While the tool can't tell you whether a food is healthy or unhealthy, it can provide valuable information about its processing level and ingredients.
Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, shopping, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Self, Prevention, Daily Beast, and more.
Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content.Products are scored from 0 to 100, with 0 being the least processed and anything over about 70 considered ultra-processed. While foods shouldn’t be off-limits just because they’re processed, experts said it’s important to look at a product’s ingredients and opt for whole foods when you can. Ultra-processed foods have come under fire over the last few years due to their links to serious health conditions, such as heart disease, obesity, and cancer. But nearly 70% of the U.S. food supply is ultra-processed, making it tricky to avoid these foods entirely. A new resource from a team of researchers across several medical centers and universities, including Northeastern University and Harvard Medical School, attempts to help consumers navigate food processing levels in popular foods to make more educated decisions at the grocery store.Here’s how the researchers hope people will use it, plus what the site can and can’t tell you.Before we dive into the tool, it’s important to understand that foods aren’t just considered unprocessed or ultra-processed. Instead, scientists who study food processing often rely on a measurement called the NOVA scale, which divides items into four categories: Unprocessed and minimally processed: This category features foods that are in their natural state or barely altered, like fresh fruits, vegetables, and Processed: Foods in this category are altered from their natural state and often contain sugar, oil, salt, or other ingredients. Fruit in syrup, cured or smoked meats, and canned fish are included here. Ultra-processed: These foods are processed but contain additional ingredients like artificial colors, flavors, additives, and preservatives for texture and shelf life. They are usually packaged and include items such as chips, energy bars, and protein powder.. That research used machine learning to create a database called GroceryDB, which features more than 50,000 foods.. Each food in the database is assigned a category, and then a processing score, which is an indication of a food's level of processing. Numbers closest to zero are the least processed. Each food also has a list of nutrition facts and an ingredient tree that breaks down what goes into the product. To use TrueFood, you can cruise through a food category to see levels of processing for products that fall into that section. Another option is to type in a product name on the homepage to see how it’s rated.“If the majority of food is just in one class, how is this categorization helping people distinguish the quality of their food?” he said. “The food score is there to provide that nuance.” Sebek said it’s generally best to look for foods closer to zero if you’re concerned about processing. Foods tend to tip into the ultra-processed category when they reach a 70 or higher.It’s important to note that foods shouldn’t necessarily be off-limits if they’re processed. “Processed and ultra-processed foodsHardie recommends opting for whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats when you can. These foods “are going to be the healthiest and less processed options,” she said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean that processed foods are bad for us either.” The TrueFood tool can help you understand why a product is highly processed, but it only features foods found at three major stores. As a result, you may not get the information you need if a product you’re interested in isn’t included. But for foods that can be found in the database, Ispirova suggests making your decision based on the overall processing score and the ingredients list.with a background in health, science, and investigative reporting. Previously, she wrote full time about parenting issues for the app Parent Lab. Before that, she worked as a reporter for National Geographic covering wildlife crime and exploitation.Can You Actually Be Addicted to Ultra-Processed Snacks? Here's What the Science SaysLimiting Ultra-Processed Foods This Year? Experts Recommend Starting With These 3BrucePac Meat Recall Grows to 12 Million Pounds; Affects Foods From Walmart, Trader Joe's, and MoreTrader Joe's Recalls Cookies After Discovering They May Contain RocksMost People Can Lower Their Blood Pressure By Cutting Out 1 Teaspoon of Salt Each DayMost Americans Don't Know What 'Ultra-Processed' Foods Are—Do You?
ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS FOOD PROCESSING NOVA SCALE TRUEFOOD TOOL GROCERYSDB
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