ASK AN EXPERT: WHAT ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS?

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Sept. 29 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nearly every day, there's a headline in the news about ultra-processed foods, which have been linked to harmful health effects despite lacking a universally accepted definition. These foods are the subject of numerous proposed regulations, but they are not easy for consumers to avoid because they are common and often cheaper and more convenient than healthier alternatives.

Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, is an expert in the how foods, nutrients and dietary patterns can increase or decrease people's risk of heart disease and diabetes.

In this Q&A, she discussed what ultra...