This term refers to commercially produced food that is made from ingredients not used in home cooking. These chemically modified substances are often extracted from foods as starches, fats and sugars and then chemically modified to make them more appealing. Examples can include packaged snacks, ready-made meals, soft drinks and ice creams. Packaged food that includes a long list of ingredients you would not have in your kitchen at home are ultra-processed. Increasing evidence suggests a diet high in ultra-processed foods is damaging to your health.