Yes. But there's a strong enough correlation for it to be beneficial. Most processed foods are processed to add sugars, fats, and sodium to make them more tasty, and to remove fiber to make them easier to eat.

You're right that a person shouldn't pre-judge a good based solely on its having been manufactured. But it's also true that someone who generally avoids processed foods will end up avoiding the most unhealthy foods available.

> A box of instant macaroni could be unhealthy because it contains low levels of important vitamins and minerals while containing excess amounts of salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat

What macaroni contains cholesterol and saturated fat? And seems unfair to compare macaroni, a plain ingredient usually combined with others, with a complete meal.

From the "instant", I assume they're referring to mac n "cheese", with whatever is passing for the latter containing both of those.

Oh right I guess that's a dish made with macaroni then, and not just the pasta itself, so that's confusing.

No one on earth eats plain macaroni. You have it mixed with something. lol

Yes it's combined with a sauce or something - meat, tomato, cheese, etc. But then that gives you wildly different nutrition profiles. Just saying 'box of macaroni' doesn't tell you anything.

Colloquially, in the US where San Francisco is based, a box of macaroni would mean craft mac and cheese just like kleenex means tissue.

Egg Macaroni

>> "Processed foods" are not inherently hazardous.

Research suggests they are:

Ultra-processed food causes weight gain – firm evidence at last

https://theconversation.com/ultra-processed-food-causes-weig...

Apparently, the important ingredient lost during processing is dietary fiber- not vitamins and minerals.