I wish these studies would obsess a bit less with “ultra-processed” (whatever that means) and instead focus on a small number of controllable factors. Here are the meals:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/instance/7946062/bin/N...

Some contrasts: blueberry yoplait (lots of added sugar!) vs plain Greek yogurt (still seems pretty processed to me)

Honey Nut Cheerios vs plain nuts. Sure, the Honey Nut Cheerios are a lot more processed, but they’re also absurdly sweet. Maybe they should compare an unsweetened alternative?

Peaches canned in syrup vs fresh cut strawberries. Is this about the processing or the syrup?

The list goes on. There is certainly a trend here, but I’m wondering if it’s as simple as it being impossible to eat adequate nutrients in the “ultra-processed” meals without eating far too much sugar in the process.