Processed food is food that has been altered from its natural state or processed in a factory either by transforming raw food into other ingredients or transforming ingredients into a food product. Processed food
is usually derived from harvested crops or butchered animals which are
made into attractive, marketable products. Processing foods can be
traced back to prehistoric times with slaughtering, sun drying, and
preserving with salt. Creation of modern processed food began in the 19th and 20th centuries and was first used to create long shelf life for meals in the military. Without processed foods, modern-day supermarkets would not be able to keep much food on the shelves. Food processing removes harmful pathogens, increases food consistency, and enables transportation of perishables over long distances. Some common forms of food processing can include canning, freezing, enriching, and pasteurizing. Some processed food is good for human consumption such as milk; it must be sanitized to kill harmful bacteria. Another healthy form of processed food
is frozen vegetables. While fresh is preferred, freezing vegetables
helps lock in vital nutrients and vitamins that might be lost through
another form of processing. Some forms of processed food is not so healthy. Processed foods like high-calorie snack foods, frozen dinners, packaged cookies, and processed meats are all high in sodium, sugars, trans fats and saturated fats. Consuming large amounts of these kinds of processed food can increase a person's risk for many health problems.