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List of Processed Foods


This is a list of processed foods by type (not by brand). It is not a complete list. Many new food products are marketed every year.

You can evaluate how processed a food is by reading the label's ingredients list to see the names, number, and type of ingredients. A large number of ingredients, with names that you don't recognize, indicates a highly processed food.

More generally, virtually every food that has a label is processed. Virtually every food that comes in a box, bag, jar, or can is processed.

For more information see the pages on processed food and whole foods.


List of processed foods

Baked goods and grains

  • White rice
  • Cornmeal
  • Polenta
  • Flour
  • White flour
  • Bread
  • Rolls
  • Buns
  • Muffins
  • Bagels
  • Bread sticks
  • Pizza crust
  • Pita bread
  • Tortillas
  • Croutons
  • Flat bread
  • Crackers
  • Macaroni
  • Pasta
  • Couscous
  • Orzo
  • Cake
  • Cake mixes
  • Pie
  • Pie crust mixes
  • Cookies
  • Cookie dough

Salt and leavens

  • Salt
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda

Processed Fruit

  • Canned fruit
  • Frozen fruit
  • Fruit sauces
  • Jellies
  • Jams
  • Pie fillings
  • Fruit juice

Processed vegetables

  • Canned vegetables
  • Frozen vegetables
  • French fries
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard

Convenience foods

  • Pizza
  • Precooked foods
  • Frozen dinners
  • Breakfast cereal
  • Granola
  • Energy bars

Processed meat

  • Canned meat
  • Cured meat
  • Ham
  • Lunch meat
  • Sausage
  • Bacon
  • Gelatins
  • Fresh meat with additives

Processed dairy foods

  • Cheese
  • Cheese food
  • Milk other than raw (homogenized, pasteurized, skim, low-fat, etc.)
  • Yogurt

Processed fats and oils

  • Refined oils
  • Cooking spray
  • Margarine
  • Salad dressing
  • BBQ sauce
  • Mayonnaise
  • Peanut butter

Drinks

  • Soft drinks
  • Fruit drinks
  • Instant breakfast drinks

Confections

  • White sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Corn syrup
  • Rice syrup
  • Honey (unless raw)
  • Syrups
  • Candies
  • Soft candies
  • Pudding
  • Dessert mixes
  • Ice cream
  • Frozen desserts
  • Whipped cream
  • Chocolate
  • Marshmallows
  • Shredded coconut
  • Sugar substitutes