Processed food isn’t all about just changing the physical structure. This is all about treating it with chemical or mechanical procedures in order to preserve its freshness when sold in the market. However, this is not really a bad thing.
Some of the mechanical and chemical processes to preserve food are canning, freezing, drying, and even baking. These are natural processes that can even be done at home. Here are other examples of processes that help preserve and keep any food’s freshness:
Oils
Natural oils like olive and canola oils are pressed and refined from their fruits or seeds in order to bring out their purest substance and keep them as fresh as possible, away from particles that can become a breeding place for harmful bacteria.
Milk
Pasteurization is very important in killing harmful bacteria that could spoil it.
Fortification
Most products are fortified with various vitamins and minerals in order to make it nutritious. One example is tomato paste that is fortified with minerals and compounds like calcium, lycopene, iron, and antioxidants which are all beneficial to the body.
Our cooking styles, meal preparation, and storage, even controlling spices, seasonings, and condiments for cooking are important in food processing. It also pays to read labels from canned, packed, or even bottled products for you to have a wider idea on what you are cooking or eating.