When you think of processed food, does the image of a microwave ready-meal spring to mind? Of course, a preprepared meal is the epitome of processed food, but if you were to run an audit of your pantry, you’d probably be surprised by how many items have been processed in some way. Today, few of the foods we eat are in their natural or raw state, such as nuts, eggs, unpasteurised milk, raw meat and fish, fruit and vegetables. Instead, we rely on ready-meals, frozen and canned food, flour, bread, pasta, pasteurised milk and cheese, chocolate and alcohol. Even healthy grains such as wholemeal flour, oats, brown rice and quinoa have been processed to make them edible. Manufactured on a grand scale, most processed foods are laden with sweeteners, extra…
