The Science and Politics of Processed Foods

Processed food is everywhere—and chances are, you're eating more of it than you think. In this episode of Unfold, we go beyond the ingredient list to uncover the science and public perceptions of processed and ultra-processed foods. Are these foods addictive by design, unsafe or just misunderstood? With insights from food scientists and cultural experts, we’ll examine how modern food manufacturing may be shaping our health, our public policy and even our understanding of what food is.

In this episode:

Alyson Mitchell, professor and food chemist, UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology

Charlotte Biltekoff, professor in UC Davis Departments of Food Science and Technology and American Studies

Read our In Focus story: “What to Know about Processed and Ultra-Processed Foods.”

Learn more about processed foods from nutritionists and food scientists in our “Ask the Experts” article.

Read Biltekoff’s latest book, Real Food, Real Facts: Processed Food and the Politics of Knowledge