The lack of a clear definition is the core of why this advice is unworkable, will never see wide adoption, and will be abandoned sooner or later.
The fact that enriched white pasta isn't included on the ultra-processed list shows that they're using some criteria outside of how processed the food is to make the list.
Re:Why Is the American Diet So Deadly?
by evandrofisico on Friday February 20, 2026 @12:42PM
(#47091169)
The usual canned beans (at least here in Brazil) are not ultra-processed, just processed, as they normally contain beans, water and salt.
Re:Why Is the American Diet So Deadly?
by epistasis on Friday February 20, 2026 @12:50PM
(#47091295)
That's the only ingredient list I have ever seen on canned beans as well, here in the US. I tend to make beans from dry just because I like to cook them with other vegetables and spices in order for beans to be at all palatable for me.
I wish journalists would run their examples like these by the researchers directly to see if the journalist's conception of the idea matches the researchers.
Perhaps I'm just looking for too sharp of an edge on the definition. It's just that the examples in the article are something that make me doubt the entire ontology.