Advantages and disadvantages of processed foods | What is the latest freezing technology to eliminate risks?

Processed foods have the advantage of being convenient and easy to handle.

However, when using it, you need to be aware of the disadvantages. If you understand the characteristics and incorporate them in moderation, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of processed foods.

In this article, we will explain the types and classifications of processed foods, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

In addition, many processed foods can be stored for a long time, but you can extend the shelf life even further by using rapid freezer.

We will also touch on rapid freezer, which are convenient for long-term storage, so please use this as a reference when handling processed foods.

What exactly is processed food?

Processed foods are foods that have undergone some kind of processing (seasoning, heating, drying, fermentation, etc.). Foods that have undergone no processing, only preparation and sorting, are classified as fresh foods.

Processed foods are manufactured for the purposes of ``maintaining the appropriate quality of foods that are difficult to preserve for long periods of time'' and ``effectively utilizing and stably supplying.''​

In recent years, it has been manufactured to improve palatability by improving color, aroma, and taste, as well as to shorten cooking time.

Processed foods come in a wide variety of types and degrees of processing. There are more opportunities to incorporate cooked and semi-cooked foods into cooking, which helps solve time and economic issues.

Types of processed foods

There are four main types of processed foods:

• Seafood processed food
• Livestock processed food
• Agricultural processed food
• Other processed foods

These are further subdivided into many types, including processed seafood, meat products, and processed vegetable products. Let's take a look at what types of each type there are.

<Types of processed foods (examples)>

※The above is an example.

Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “Survey on the status of voluntary labeling of processed foods”

Classification based on degree of processing

Processed foods are divided into primary processed foods, secondary processed foods, and tertiary processed foods, depending on the degree of processing.

Let's take a look at the differences between each and food examples.

・Primary processed food

Primary processed foods are foods that have been physically processed or microbially processed to take advantage of the properties of the raw food.

Examples: Polished barley, polished rice, pickles, cut vegetables, vegetable oil, canned goods, alcoholic beverages, etc.

・Secondary processed food

Secondary processed foods are foods that have been processed by combining one or more types of primary processed foods.

Examples: noodle making, bread making, margarine, mayonnaise, sauce, ham, etc.

・Tertiary processed food

Tertiary processed foods are foods that are processed into a form different from the original processed food by combining two or more types of primary processed foods or secondary processed foods.

Examples: Prepared foods, retort foods, frozen foods, confectionery, beverages, etc.

Benefits of processed foods

Processed foods have become widespread and pervasive in modern people's diets. Here we will explain the benefits of processed foods.

Can be stored for a long time

Some processed foods can be stored for long periods of time by being heat sterilized or using preservatives to maintain their quality for a long time.

Many sealed canned foods and retort foods can be stored for more than a year if placed in an appropriate environment.

easy to cook

Processed foods that have been cooked to some extent can be eaten by simply frying or heating them. Therefore, it does not require much time to cook.

There are also some processed foods that can be eaten without cooking. If used in restaurants, etc., you can expect to improve operational efficiency by shortening cooking time.

Can prevent food loss

Processed foods that are suitable for long-term storage do not need to be thrown away even if they cannot be used all at once. Therefore, it will help prevent food waste.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the amount of food loss in Japan in FY2021 was 5.23 million tons. Of this amount, food loss at general households was 2.44 million tons, and food loss at businesses was 2.79 million tons.

Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “Latest food loss amount is 5.23 million tons, 2.79 million tons in business-related items”

The reality is that a lot of food is thrown away every day in Japan, not just in restaurants and households. Causes of this waste include buying too much food and improper storage management.

Cheap price

Processed foods, which aim to make effective use of food and ensure a stable supply, have the advantage of being able to be purchased at relatively low prices. By adopting it properly, you can reduce your financial burden.

For businesses such as restaurants, this can help reduce not only purchasing costs but also labor costs for cooking.

Disadvantages of processed foods

While processed foods have many advantages in terms of preservation and economy, they also have some disadvantages. Here we will explain the disadvantages of processed foods.

likely to lead to overdosing

Eating processed foods too often can lead to excessive intake of salt, sugar, and fat. It is known that nutritional imbalance caused by eating too much processed food increases the risk of lifestyle-related diseases and aging.

The advantage of processed foods is that they require less preparation and can be easily incorporated, but it is also important to be careful not to make your diet center around processed foods.

nutrients are lost

In some cases, processed foods lose their original nutrients during processing such as heating. In particular, vitamins and dietary fiber are easily lost in vegetables and fruits, and the more complex the processing, the more nutrients are lost.

For example, it is said that about 60% of the vitamins in wheat are lost when it is milled into flour.

Contains many food additives

Food additives are used in some processed foods to improve taste, appearance, and maintain quality.

Examples: Coloring agents and sweeteners for confectionery, coloring agents for ham and sausages, preservatives for bento boxes, etc.

If you consume processed foods on a daily basis, you may exceed the acceptable intake amount of food additives, which may harm your health. You need to be careful about consuming too much processed food.

In this way, while processed foods have the advantage of being highly convenient, they also have the disadvantage of being bad for the body. However, technology that suppresses this disadvantage has recently been attracting attention.

That is refrigeration technology.

Freezing not only offers the convenience of processed foods, but also makes it possible to create healthy products with fewer additives.

Also, some people have the impression that frozen foods are not tasty, but advances in freezing technology have led to the emergence of many high-quality frozen foods.

rapid freezer useful for long-term preservation of processed foods

By using the latest rapid freezer, you can lock in the flavor and flavor of food without destroying its cells, making it possible to maintain the quality and taste of foods that could not be frozen in the past without losing nutrients. Masu.

In addition, since it is possible to preserve food by freezing it without causing the growth of bacteria, it is possible to preserve it for a long time without adding food additives.

Therefore, by using rapid freezing, we can produce foods that are good for the body and of high quality while retaining the high convenience that is the advantage of processed products.

​The ``Artlock Freezer'', which uses flash freezing technology, is a fully automatic rapid freezer that automatically adjusts the freezing process, such as freezing time and air volume, according to the food and environment.

Equipped with a special mechanism and the latest technology, it has minimized the quality deterioration seen in conventional rapid freezing, making high-quality freezing possible.

Please see this page for more information about the Artlock Freezer, which has created ``the next generation flash freezing foods that are more delicious than fresh foods.''

Click here for information about the ARTLOCK Freezer

in conclusion

While processed foods have the advantage of being able to be stored for long periods of time and can be prepared in a short amount of time, they also have disadvantages such as nutritional imbalances and excessive intake of food additives.

Processed foods come in a variety of forms depending on the type and degree of processing, and the quantities handled are enormous. Businesses such as restaurants and retail stores can reduce costs and food waste by rapid freezing processed foods.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding rapid freezer, please feel free to contact us using the information below.

Click here for the contact page