"The NOVA food classification system has been causing unnecessary confusion about which foods are "ultraprocessed." It was developed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies in Health and Nutrition, School of Public Health at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and it groups foods by their level of processing and recommends avoiding "ultraprocessed foods" like candy and soda. All breakfast cereal is lumped in the ultraprocessed category. This has prompted debate among nutrition experts."
"She takes issue with the way the NOVA list categorizes foods, especially whole-grain cereals. "For example, refined grains like all-purpose flour, degermed cornmeal, and white rice, which have been processed to have their healthful bran and germ removed, are somehow considered minimally processed, putting them in the same category as fresh broccoli - while packaged 100% whole grain breads and whole grain breakfast cereals are considered ultra-processed," LeBlanc said."
The NOVA food classification system groups foods by level of processing and labels many items, including all breakfast cereals, as ultraprocessed. That broad labeling has created confusion and debate among nutrition experts. Processing refers to physical, biological, and chemical methods used in food manufacturing, including additives, and was not intended to determine healthiness. Some ultra-processed products, such as whole-grain breakfast cereals, supply food groups recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, while other ultra-processed items like candy and soft drinks provide little nutritional value. The system classifies refined grains as minimally processed yet places packaged 100% whole-grain breads and cereals in the ultraprocessed category. Whole-grain cereals can support nutrition assistance programs and provide valuable nutrients to vulnerable populations.
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