Ultra-processed foods: Implications for gastrointestinal health

Table 1 NOVA classification of foods[1]

Category	Description	Examples
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods	Natural foods altered by removal of inedible parts, drying, freezing, or pasteurization without adding substances	Fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, milk, and meat
Processed culinary ingredients	Substances extracted from group 1 foods or nature, used in home cooking to prepare and season dishes	Oils, butter, sugar, salt, starch
Processed foods	Products are made by adding salt, sugar, oil, or other group 2 ingredients to group 1 foods, typically to increase shelf life or palatability	Canned vegetables, cheese, salted nuts, bread
UPFs	Industrial formulations with little or no whole foods, containing additives for flavor, texture, and shelf life. Designed for convenience and hyper-palatability	Soft drinks, packaged snacks, instant noodles, and ice cream

UPFs: Ultra-processed foods.