What we know about the health risks of ultra-processed foods

Above, an unprocessed apple. Ultra-processed foods are made from industrially manufactured ingredients that have been extracted from foods, processed, then reassembled to create shelf-stable, tasty and convenient meals. (Meredith Rizzo for NPR)

This morning, while tidying up my office, I found an open box of packaged coconut and chocolate cookies that I'd bought sometime last year. The "use by" date had come and gone more than eight months ago. Curious, I took a small bite. They still tasted pretty darn good.

A closer look at the ingredient list revealed some things I've certainly never baked with, including carrageenan and sorbitan tristearate, additives used to do things like thicken, emulsify and preserve the flavor and enhance the texture of food.