“Junk food” vs “processed food”

synonyms

According to Wikipedia, the term junk food

dates back at least to the early 1950s, although its coinage has been credited to Michael F. Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972. It refers to anything made principally of (1) white flour and or (2) refined white sugar or syrup. For example, white bread, crackers, cake, candy, ice cream soda, chocolate malted, sundaes, sweetened carbonated beverages.

(Cambridge) adds the denotation of speed in preparing this food:

food that is unhealthy but is quick and easy to eat

On the other hand, processed food seems to have a similar negative connotation:

Processed food has had some sort of chemical or industrial treatment in order to cook it, preserve it, or improve its taste or appearance:

  • highly processed convenience foods

My question is: Can junk food be used as a synonym of processed food to mean unhealthy food in non-scientific contexts? Do they belong to the same register of language (my feeling is that junk food is less formal)? To be more concrete, can we swap the two expressions in these examples:

I Cut Out Processed Food [Junk Food?] for a Month to Quit My ‘Healthy’ Eating Habits (source)

I do not eat junk foods [processed foods?] or stuff like that during cheat days. (source)

Best Answer

It cannot be used as a synonym; what can be said is that "processed food" can sometimes be not as healthy as other food. This source makes this clear.

Food processing can be as basic as:

  • freezing
  • canning
  • baking
  • drying

Not all processed foods are unhealthy but some processed foods may contain high levels of salt, sugar and fat.

What counts as processed food?

Examples of common processed foods include:

  • breakfast cereals
  • cheese
  • tinned vegetables
  • bread
  • savoury snacks, such as crisps, sausage rolls, pies and pasties
  • meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, salami and paté
  • microwave meals or ready meals
  • cakes and biscuits -drinks, such as milk or soft drinks

Not all processed food is a bad choice. Some foods need processing to make them safe, such as milk, which needs to be pasteurised to remove harmful bacteria.

Other foods need processing to make them suitable for use, such as pressing seeds to make oil.

It is obvious that the processes are, for the most important ones, those used for a lot of food considered healthy, and that such items as breakfast cereals, sliced bread or cheese can't be called junkfood. The nutritional value of bread products, cheese and cereals is unquestioned.

(Junk-Food Facts) "Junk food" generally refers to foods that contribute lots of calories but little nutritional value. Of course, what's considered "junk food" depends on whom you ask. Some might say pizza is junk food, for example. But I personally don't think so, since it contributes real food with nutrients, like cheese and tomato sauce. Add whole-wheat or part whole-wheat crust, plus veggies as a topping, and I'd say pizza completely exits the junk food category.

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