You might be wondering as to how did the meat of the cow became the food that you eat

in can, that
the mango that you eat during summer is being sold in the Pasalubong Center any time of the year.
Well, that is the power of food processing however, there are also disadvantages of it. You will come to
know new things about our course as you read and understand our topic for this week.

Processed Foods
         Processed foods are foods which have been altered in some way or the other to make them
healthier, to make them taste better or for storage purposes. Almost every day to day food that you
consume is processed. Some examples of processed foods include breakfast cereals, cheese, milks, soft
drinks, bread etc. 

Advantages of Processed Foods

 Processed foods like different types of jams and juices taste very good and last longer, making
them a part of every household.
 Processed fruits, vegetables and herbs, when stored in cans, tend to be free from bacteria and
other harmful agents.
 They are easy to purchase because they are available in all seasons
 Toxin removal, preservation, easy marketing and distribution tasks, and increasing food
consistency.
 Processed foods are usually less susceptible to early spoilage than fresh foods and are better
suited for long distance transportation from the source to the consumer.
 Processing can also reduce the incidence of food borne disease.
 The act of processing can often improve the taste of food significantly.

Disadvantages of Processed Foods

Processed foods have their own set of drawbacks. Here are some of them:
 Some processed foods are genetically modified, which may cause a negative impact on your
health.
 Foods tend to lose their nutritional value when processed.
 Foods that contain added sugar and fat can lead to a lot of health problems like diabetes, heart
diseases and other cardiovascular problems.
 Food processing can affect its nutritional density.
 Using food additives represents another safety concern.
 Food processing inherently introduce a number of contamination risks.

Now, what have you realized about processed foods? Are they healthy to eat regularly? Why or why
not? What ingredient of the processed foods make it unhealthy to eat?