Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) make up 58% of calories consumed in the US and 67% of children's calories. CheckIt AI analyzed 65 grocery products and found 25% (16 products) score below 40/100 — indicating high levels of artificial additives, seed oils, and industrial ingredients associated with ultra-processing.
The NOVA classification system, developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo, categorizes all food into 4 groups based on the extent and purpose of processing:
| NOVA Group | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Unprocessed or minimally processed | Fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, milk |
| Group 2 | Processed culinary ingredients | Oils, butter, sugar, salt, flour |
| Group 3 | Processed foods | Canned vegetables, cheese, fresh bread |
| Group 4 (UPF) | Ultra-processed food products | Soft drinks, chips, instant noodles, frozen pizzas |
Look for these telltale ingredients that only exist in industrial food production:
Rule of thumb: If it has more than 5 ingredients and you can't recognize some of them, it's likely ultra-processed.
These products scored lowest in our database — loaded with artificial additives, seed oils, and industrial ingredients:
| Product | Brand | Score | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Protein | Premier Protein | 7/100 | ⚠️ e340 ⚠️ e340ii ⚠️ e340iii ⚠️ e343 ⚠️ e343i ⚠️ e407 ⚠️ e452 ⚠️ e452i ⚠️ e950 ⚠️ e955 🛢️ canola oil 🛢️ rapeseed oil 🛢️ contains 1 and less of high oleic sunflower oil and soybean oil 🛢️ retinyl palmitate |
| MAX PROTEIN NUTRITION SHAKE, MILK CHOCOLATE | Abbott Laboratories Inc | 7/100 | ⚠️ e407 ⚠️ e466 ⚠️ e950 ⚠️ e955 🛢️ retinyl palmitate 🛢️ soluble corn fiber 🛢️ corn fiber 🛢️ sunflower oil |
| PEPPERED BEEF JERKY, PEPPERED | Old Trapper Smoked Products | 12/100 | ⚠️ e250 🛢️ beef stock hydrolyzed corn protein |
| Cookies & Cream Protein Bar | Barebells | 24/100 | ⚠️ e1200 ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e422 ⚠️ e955 ⚠️ e965 🛢️ sunflower oil 🛢️ sunflower lecithin |
| PEPPERONI FRENCH BREAD TOPPED WITH PIZZA SAUCE, MOZZARELLA CHEESE FRENCH BREAD SINGLES PIZZAS, PEPPERONI | The Schwan Food Company | 24/100 | ⚠️ e160c ⚠️ e250 ⚠️ e300 ⚠️ e320 ⚠️ e321 ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e330 🛢️ hydrolyzed soy and corn protein |
| WHOLE WHEAT WITH QUINOA + FLAX SIMPLY BETTER TORTILLAS, TORTILLAS | La Tortilla Factory Inc | 24/100 | ⚠️ e200 ⚠️ e270 ⚠️ e282 ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e330 ⚠️ e341 ⚠️ e341i ⚠️ e412 ⚠️ e450 ⚠️ e450i ⚠️ e466 ⚠️ e500 ⚠️ e500ii 🛢️ palm fruit oil 🛢️ sunflower lecithin 🛢️ corn starch |
| Cookie Dough Chunk Puffs | Built | 24/100 | ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e422 ⚠️ e500 ⚠️ e500ii ⚠️ e968 🛢️ soluble corn fiber 🛢️ corn fiber 🛢️ palm kernel oil 🛢️ palm kernel oil and fat 🛢️ sunflower lecithin |
| Plant-powered super cereal | else | 28/100 | ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e450 ⚠️ potassium iodide 🛢️ rapeseed oil 🛢️ sunflower lecithin |
| CHOCOLATE CREME GLUTEN-FREE SANDWICH COOKIES, CHOCOLATE CREME | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 28/100 | ⚠️ e322 ⚠️ e322i ⚠️ e500 ⚠️ e500ii 🛢️ corn starch |
| SHELLA GOOD AGED WHITE CHEDDAR AND SHELLS, SHELLA GOOD | Gooder Foods, Inc. | 38/100 | ⚠️ e270 ⚠️ e339ii 🛢️ sunflower seed cranberry |
Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made mostly from substances extracted from foods (oils, starches, sugars, proteins) combined with additives like artificial colors, flavors, emulsifiers, and preservatives. They're designed for long shelf-life, hyperpalatability, and branding — not nutrition. Examples: soft drinks, chips, instant noodles, frozen pizzas, packaged cookies.
NOVA is a food classification system from the University of São Paulo that sorts foods into 4 groups by processing level. Group 4 (ultra-processed) contains industrial ingredients not found in home kitchens. It's now used in dietary guidelines across 6+ countries.
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode. The app flags all ultra-processed markers including artificial additives, seed oils, and preservatives. You can also use our free Ingredient Banned Checker to paste any ingredient list online.
Research links UPFs to obesity (+26% higher risk), type 2 diabetes (+44%), cardiovascular disease (+29%), depression (+22%), and all-cause mortality (+14%). A 2024 study in The Milbank Quarterly compared their public health impact to tobacco.