Processed Foods Research
Done by: Ryan Wong
1 ABSTRACT
This research is about finding out the following, not in order: MAY CHANGE
1. Where are food products produced? How? Why? Who produces food products?
2. How long have they been stored? How is food tracked from “farm to fork”?
3. Are preservatives safe? How might the addition of flavor enhancers, vitamins and minerals, phosphate additives, as well as sugar and fat substitutes affect our overall health?
4. What are beneficial reasons for using processed foods?
5. What processed foods should we avoid?
6. Do new technologies like genetic engineering and nanotechnology in food pose serious new risks for human health?
2 WHAT ARE PROCESSED FOODS?
Processed foods aren't just microwave meals and …show more content…
2.1.1 Examples of Common Processed Foods
1. Breakfast cereals
2. Cheese
3. Tinned vegetables
4. Bread
5. Savoury snacks, such as crisps
6. Meat products, such as bacon
7. "Convenience foods", such as microwave meals or ready meals
8. Drinks, such as milk or soft drinks
Food processing techniques include freezing, canning, baking, drying and pasteurising products.
2.2 ARE ALL PROCESSED FOODS BAD?
Dietitian Sian Porter says: "Not all processed food is a bad choice. Some foods need processing to make them safe, such as milk, which needs to be pasteurised to remove harmful bacteria. Other foods need processing to make them suitable for use, such as pressing seeds to make oil.
"Freezing fruit and veg preserves most vitamins, while tinned produce (choose those without added sugar and salt) can mean convenient storage, cooking and choice to eat all year round, with less waste and cost than fresh."
2.3 WHAT MAKES PROCESSED FOODS LESS HEALTHY?
Ingredients such as salt, sugar and fat are sometimes added to processed foods to make their flavour more appealing and to prolong their shelf life, or in some cases to contribute to the food's structure, such as salt in bread or sugar in …show more content…
This is equivalent to two or three rashers of bacon, or a little over two slices of roast lamb, beef or pork, with each about the size of half a slice of bread.
However, it's important to remember that the term "processed" applies to a very broad range of foods, many of which can be eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
2.5 HOW CAN WE EAT PROCESSED FOODS AS A PART OF A HEALTHY DIET?
Reading nutrition labels can help you choose between processed products and keep a check on the amount of processed foods you're eating that are high in fat, salt and added sugars.
Most pre-packed foods have a nutrition label on the back or side of the packaging. This type of label includes information on energy (kJ/kcal), fat, saturates (saturated fat), carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. It may also provide additional information on certain nutrients such as fibre. All nutrition information is provided per 100 grams and sometimes per portion of the food.
2.6 HOW DO I KNOW PROCESSED FOODS ARE HIGH IN FAT, SATURATED FAT, SUGAR OR
Done by: Ryan Wong
1 ABSTRACT
This research is about finding out the following, not in order: MAY CHANGE
1. Where are food products produced? How? Why? Who produces food products?
2. How long have they been stored? How is food tracked from “farm to fork”?
3. Are preservatives safe? How might the addition of flavor enhancers, vitamins and minerals, phosphate additives, as well as sugar and fat substitutes affect our overall health?
4. What are beneficial reasons for using processed foods?
5. What processed foods should we avoid?
6. Do new technologies like genetic engineering and nanotechnology in food pose serious new risks for human health?
2 WHAT ARE PROCESSED FOODS?
Processed foods aren't just microwave meals and …show more content…
2.1.1 Examples of Common Processed Foods
1. Breakfast cereals
2. Cheese
3. Tinned vegetables
4. Bread
5. Savoury snacks, such as crisps
6. Meat products, such as bacon
7. "Convenience foods", such as microwave meals or ready meals
8. Drinks, such as milk or soft drinks
Food processing techniques include freezing, canning, baking, drying and pasteurising products.
2.2 ARE ALL PROCESSED FOODS BAD?
Dietitian Sian Porter says: "Not all processed food is a bad choice. Some foods need processing to make them safe, such as milk, which needs to be pasteurised to remove harmful bacteria. Other foods need processing to make them suitable for use, such as pressing seeds to make oil.
"Freezing fruit and veg preserves most vitamins, while tinned produce (choose those without added sugar and salt) can mean convenient storage, cooking and choice to eat all year round, with less waste and cost than fresh."
2.3 WHAT MAKES PROCESSED FOODS LESS HEALTHY?
Ingredients such as salt, sugar and fat are sometimes added to processed foods to make their flavour more appealing and to prolong their shelf life, or in some cases to contribute to the food's structure, such as salt in bread or sugar in …show more content…
This is equivalent to two or three rashers of bacon, or a little over two slices of roast lamb, beef or pork, with each about the size of half a slice of bread.
However, it's important to remember that the term "processed" applies to a very broad range of foods, many of which can be eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
2.5 HOW CAN WE EAT PROCESSED FOODS AS A PART OF A HEALTHY DIET?
Reading nutrition labels can help you choose between processed products and keep a check on the amount of processed foods you're eating that are high in fat, salt and added sugars.
Most pre-packed foods have a nutrition label on the back or side of the packaging. This type of label includes information on energy (kJ/kcal), fat, saturates (saturated fat), carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. It may also provide additional information on certain nutrients such as fibre. All nutrition information is provided per 100 grams and sometimes per portion of the food.
2.6 HOW DO I KNOW PROCESSED FOODS ARE HIGH IN FAT, SATURATED FAT, SUGAR OR