Ultra-processed food makes up more than half of the average American diet. Here is exactly how researchers define it, how to identify it on the shelf, and why it matters for your health.
Scan Your PantryIn 2009, a team of Brazilian nutrition researchers led by Carlos Monteiro introduced the NOVA food classification system. It was a paradigm shift. Instead of focusing on nutrients like fat, sugar, and sodium, NOVA looks at how much industrial processing a food has undergone. Under this framework, a product is considered ultra-processed when it is made primarily from substances extracted from foods or derived from food constituents with little or no intact food remaining.
What does that look like in practice? Think of a chicken nugget. The original food — chicken — has been mechanically separated, mixed with starches, gums, flavoring, and colorants, then coated in a batter with its own set of additives, and finally par-fried in hydrogenated oil. The end product bears almost no resemblance to the raw ingredient. That level of transformation, combined with the use of industrial-only additives, is what defines ultra-processed food.
Common markers of UPF include ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup, interesterified fat, hydrolyzed protein, maltodextrin, and a long list of emulsifiers and humectants. If you see more than one or two of these on a label, the product almost certainly qualifies. BerryPure was built to make this judgment call for you in seconds — scan the label and get a definitive classification.
Whether you are shopping or auditing your pantry at home, pick up the product and launch the app. You can scan barcodes for packaged goods or photograph ingredient lists on items without barcodes.
BerryPure analyzes every ingredient and assigns the product to one of four NOVA groups: unprocessed/minimally processed, processed culinary ingredient, processed food, or ultra-processed food product. The classification appears immediately with a clear label.
Each ingredient that contributed to an ultra-processed classification is highlighted. Tap any one to learn what it is, why it is used by manufacturers, and what research says about its effects.
BerryPure suggests alternatives in the same food category that have a shorter, cleaner ingredient list. You get the same type of product without the industrial additives.
Breakfast cereal with BHT, artificial colors, and maltodextrin
Steel-cut oats or muesli with nuts and dried fruit
Most boxed cereals are textbook ultra-processed products. Steel-cut oats are a single-ingredient whole grain that keeps you full longer without synthetic preservatives or dyes.
Frozen pizza with modified food starch and sodium phosphate
Pizza made on store-bought fresh dough with real mozzarella and vegetables
Frozen pizzas rely on emulsifiers and modified starches to survive freezing and reheating. Fresh dough with simple toppings delivers better flavor and avoids the additives entirely.
Instant ramen with TBHQ and monosodium glutamate
Rice noodles in homemade broth with fresh vegetables
The seasoning packets and preserved noodles in instant ramen are loaded with synthetic preservatives. Rice noodles cook just as fast and pair well with a quick vegetable broth.
Protein bars with soy protein isolate, sugar alcohols, and palm kernel oil
Hard-boiled eggs, a handful of almonds, or a banana with nut butter
Many protein bars are essentially candy bars with added protein isolate. Whole-food snacks provide protein and energy without the long list of industrial binders and sweeteners.
Bottled smoothies with fruit juice concentrate and guar gum
A blender smoothie with frozen fruit, plain yogurt, and a handful of spinach
Pre-made smoothies use juice concentrates as a cheap sugar source and gums for shelf-stable thickness. Blending your own takes under three minutes and preserves the fiber.
Everything you need to know about ultra-processed food and sugar detox.
Under NOVA, ultra-processed food is defined as industrial formulations made mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives, with little or no intact food. Key markers include ingredients like hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, protein isolates, emulsifiers, humectants, and flavor enhancers — substances you would not find in a typical kitchen.
Studies estimate that ultra-processed foods account for roughly 57-60% of caloric intake in the United States and around 50% in the United Kingdom. In children and adolescents, the proportion can be even higher. These numbers have been climbing steadily over the past two decades.
No. Packaging does not determine processing level. Canned sardines in olive oil, dried lentils, frozen spinach, and plain butter are all packaged but fall into lower NOVA categories. The classification depends on the ingredients and manufacturing methods, not the container.
Large-scale observational studies have linked high UPF consumption with increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Researchers believe this is partly due to the additives themselves and partly because ultra-processed foods are engineered to encourage overconsumption.
Yes. You can photograph the ingredient list on any product, including bakery items, deli counter products, or bulk foods with ingredient labels. BerryPure uses text recognition to read the list and classify the product, even without a barcode.
It depends entirely on the bread. A traditional sourdough made from flour, water, salt, and a starter culture is a processed food (NOVA Group 3). A sliced white bread with added dough conditioners, emulsifiers, high-fructose corn syrup, and calcium propionate qualifies as ultra-processed (NOVA Group 4). The ingredient list is what matters.
Ultra-processed food is linked to obesity, diabetes, and brain fog. Whether you just want to scan labels or you're ready to cut it out completely, BerryPure has you covered.
is nutella ultra processed
nutella label scan + swaps
is sourdough bread ultra processed
sourdough label scan + ingredient check
sugar detox week 1
60-day plan day-by-day guide
what are seed oils
seed oils explained + what to scan for
what is clean eating
clean eating guide + label scanning basics
anti inflammatory diet
anti-inflammatory foods + additives to avoid
how to sugar detox
step-by-step sugar detox with label scanning
artificial sweeteners bad for you
artificial sweetener risks + healthier swaps
seed oils bad for you
why seed oils are harmful + what to look for on labels
artificial sweeteners list
complete list of artificial sweeteners to scan for
clean eating meal plan
weekly clean eating plan + label scanning tips
whole foods diet plan
whole foods diet plan + avoiding processed ingredients
what is ultra processed food
UPF explained + how to identify it on labels
why are seed oils bad
seed oil health risks + better cooking oil alternatives
list of seed oils
every seed oil to watch for on ingredient labels
clean eating foods
approved clean eating foods + what to scan
emulsifiers in food
common emulsifiers to detect + healthier alternatives
improve gut health
gut health through cleaner food choices
protein powder without artificial sweeteners
clean protein powder picks + label check
non seed oils
healthy cooking oils that aren't seed oils
ultra processed food examples
common UPF examples + healthier swaps
ultra processed food list
comprehensive ultra-processed food list to avoid
seed oils to avoid
seed oils on labels to avoid + safer alternatives
probiotics for gut health
probiotic foods + avoiding gut-damaging additives
processed vs ultra processed food
key differences + how to tell them apart on labels
natural food additives
natural vs artificial additives + what labels reveal
blood sugar detox
blood sugar reset through cleaner eating
foods for gut health
gut-friendly foods + additives that harm gut health
common food additives
most common food additives + what they do
drinks without artificial sweeteners
clean drink options + what to scan for
how to start eating clean
beginner clean eating guide + scanning basics
clean eating breakfast
clean breakfast ideas + ingredients to avoid
no sugar detox
zero sugar detox challenge + tracking progress
red food dye ban
food dye ban explained + scanning for dyes