Category Averages Guide
How 440+ food categories stack up on Processing and Nutrition Scores, revealing which aisles to prioritize and which to approach with caution.
📊 15 min read•🛒 Shopping Strategy•📈 Real Data Analysis
Category Overview Statistics
Total Categories
442
Food categories analyzed
Total Products
1.8M
Products with both scores
Avg Processing
7.1
Overall database average
Avg Nutrition
4.8
Overall database average
Processing Level Distribution
15.8%
Level 1 (≤2.5)
Minimally Processed
28.1%
Level 2 (≤5.0)
Processed
25.4%
Level 3 (≤8.0)
Highly Processed
30.8%
Level 4 (>8.0)
Ultra-Processed
Top 15 Least Processed Categories
Categories with the lowest average Processing Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
1
Honey
4,684 products
1.2
Minimal
Processing
4.8
Fair
Nutrition
2
Vegetable & Cooking Oils
16,760 products
1.5
Minimal
Processing
3.3
Fair
Nutrition
3
Other Grains & Seeds
4,789 products
1.7
Minimal
Processing
9.0
Excellent
Nutrition
4
Frozen Vegetables
19,609 products
2.2
Minimal
Processing
6.6
Good
Nutrition
5
Meat/Poultry/Other Animals Unprepared/Unprocessed
4,583 products
2.2
Minimal
Processing
5.7
Good
Nutrition
6
Frozen Fruit & Fruit Juice Concentrates
10,503 products
2.3
Minimal
Processing
5.6
Good
Nutrition
7
Rice
8,201 products
2.3
Minimal
Processing
7.6
Excellent
Nutrition
8
Granulated, Brown & Powdered Sugar
7,762 products
2.3
Minimal
Processing
4.2
Fair
Nutrition
9
Baking Additives & Extracts
3,510 products
2.4
Minimal
Processing
5.5
Good
Nutrition
10
Tea Bags
6,066 products
2.6
Processed
Processing
5.0
Good
Nutrition
11
Canned Vegetables
19,413 products
2.7
Processed
Processing
5.1
Good
Nutrition
12
Plant Based Water
2,820 products
2.7
Processed
Processing
4.9
Fair
Nutrition
13
Eggs & Egg Substitutes
2,746 products
2.7
Processed
Processing
6.0
Good
Nutrition
14
Flours & Corn Meal
5,757 products
2.8
Processed
Processing
8.0
Excellent
Nutrition
15
Wholesome Snacks
25,516 products
3.0
Processed
Processing
6.2
Good
Nutrition
Top 15 Most Processed Categories
Categories with the highest average Processing Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
1
Cakes & Pastries
35,673 products
18.0
Ultra
Processing
2.4
Poor
Nutrition
2
Savoury Bakery Products
3,109 products
15.0
Ultra
Processing
5.2
Good
Nutrition
3
Croissants, Sweet Rolls, Muffins & Other Pastries
10,845 products
14.1
Ultra
Processing
3.3
Fair
Nutrition
4
Prepared Wraps and Burritos
2,245 products
13.6
Ultra
Processing
5.1
Good
Nutrition
5
Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches, Biscuits & Meals
4,294 products
13.6
Ultra
Processing
4.4
Fair
Nutrition
6
Chewing Gum & Mints
6,093 products
13.1
Ultra
Processing
4.6
Fair
Nutrition
7
Prepared Subs & Sandwiches
3,693 products
13.0
Ultra
Processing
5.1
Good
Nutrition
8
Candy
83,903 products
12.7
Ultra
Processing
3.9
Fair
Nutrition
9
Confectionery Products
1,497 products
12.7
Ultra
Processing
4.7
Fair
Nutrition
10
Sweet Bakery Products
2,611 products
12.7
Ultra
Processing
2.5
Poor
Nutrition
11
Sandwiches/Filled Rolls/Wraps
1,749 products
12.4
Ultra
Processing
5.5
Good
Nutrition
12
Cookies & Crackers
50,422 products
12.1
Ultra
Processing
3.5
Fair
Nutrition
13
Pizza
15,939 products
12.0
Ultra
Processing
4.7
Fair
Nutrition
14
Gelatin Desserts
3,614 products
11.8
Ultra
Processing
4.5
Fair
Nutrition
15
Breakfast Sandwiches, Biscuits & Meals
1,035 products
11.6
Ultra
Processing
4.2
Fair
Nutrition
Top 10 Highest Nutrition Categories
Categories with the highest average Nutrition Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
1
Other Grains & Seeds
4,789 products
1.7
Minimal
Processing
9.0
Excellent
Nutrition
2
Vegetable and Lentil Mixes
7,253 products
3.5
Processed
Processing
8.8
Excellent
Nutrition
3
Pasta by Shape & Type
29,451 products
4.0
Processed
Processing
8.5
Excellent
Nutrition
4
Flours & Corn Meal
5,757 products
2.8
Processed
Processing
8.0
Excellent
Nutrition
5
Rice
8,201 products
2.3
Minimal
Processing
7.6
Excellent
Nutrition
6
Fish Unprepared/Unprocessed
1,091 products
2.5
Minimal
Processing
7.2
Excellent
Nutrition
7
Canned & Bottled Beans
14,055 products
3.9
Processed
Processing
7.2
Excellent
Nutrition
8
All Noodles
3,996 products
5.2
Highly
Processing
7.1
Excellent
Nutrition
9
Vegetarian Frozen Meats
1,277 products
7.2
Highly
Processing
6.9
Good
Nutrition
10
Nut & Seed Butters
11,458 products
3.8
Processed
Processing
6.7
Good
Nutrition
Top 10 Lowest Nutrition Categories
Categories with the lowest average Nutrition Scores to approach with caution:
1
Butter & Spread
7,857 products
5.0
Processed
Processing
1.3
Poor
Nutrition
2
Dressings & Mayo
25,568 products
7.0
Highly
Processing
2.2
Poor
Nutrition
3
Baking/Cooking Mixes/Supplies
4,393 products
10.9
Ultra
Processing
2.3
Poor
Nutrition
4
Cakes & Pastries
35,673 products
18.0
Ultra
Processing
2.4
Poor
Nutrition
5
Sweet Bakery Products
2,611 products
12.7
Ultra
Processing
2.5
Poor
Nutrition
6
Ketchup & Mustard
27,835 products
6.3
Highly
Processing
2.8
Poor
Nutrition
7
Other Frozen Desserts
7,724 products
10.2
Ultra
Processing
2.9
Poor
Nutrition
8
Desserts/Dessert Sauces/Toppings
1,471 products
11.1
Ultra
Processing
3.0
Fair
Nutrition
9
Ice Cream
56,828 products
11.3
Ultra
Processing
3.2
Fair
Nutrition
10
Milk Additives
8,109 products
8.5
Ultra
Processing
3.2
Fair
Nutrition
Categories with Most Score Variation
Categories where individual products vary most widely in processing scores - shop carefully within these categories:
1
Cakes & Pastries
35,673 products
Std Dev: 8.6
Range: 1.0 - 85.5
Average Processing Score: 18 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 85.5
2
Cookies & Crackers
50,422 products
Std Dev: 8.3
Range: 1.0 - 63.3
Average Processing Score: 12.1 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 63.3
3
Cake, Cookie & Cupcake Mixes
13,752 products
Std Dev: 7
Range: 1.0 - 26.2
Average Processing Score: 9.9 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 26.2
4
Croissants, Sweet Rolls, Muffins & Other Pastries
10,845 products
Std Dev: 6.3
Range: 1.5 - 31.4
Average Processing Score: 14.1 - but individual products vary from 1.5 - 31.4
5
Chocolate
39,277 products
Std Dev: 6.2
Range: 1.0 - 47.3
Average Processing Score: 8.9 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 47.3
6
Other Frozen Desserts
7,724 products
Std Dev: 6.2
Range: 1.0 - 43.5
Average Processing Score: 10.2 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 43.5
7
Baking Decorations & Dessert Toppings
16,310 products
Std Dev: 6
Range: 1.0 - 30.7
Average Processing Score: 10.9 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 30.7
8
Candy
83,903 products
Std Dev: 5.9
Range: 1.0 - 89.2
Average Processing Score: 12.7 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 89.2
9
Ice Cream
56,828 products
Std Dev: 5.8
Range: 1.0 - 43.5
Average Processing Score: 11.3 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 43.5
10
Nuts & Seeds
86,429 products
Std Dev: 5.8
Range: 1.0 - 74.2
Average Processing Score: 5.9 - but individual products vary from 1.0 - 74.2
Category Deep Dive: Real Product Examples
🌾 Best Category: Other Grains & Seeds (PS: 1.7, NS: 9.0)
🥛 Frozen Vegetables (PS: 2.2, NS: 6.6)
Great example of minimally processed foods with excellent nutrition scores
⚠️ High Variation: Cakes & Pastries (PS: 18.0, Std Dev: 8.6)
This category ranges from PS 1.0 (simple ingredients like pumpkin puree) to PS 85.5 (ultra-processed variety cakes)
Best: Pumpkin Pie Mix (Good & Gather)
Just pumpkin - single ingredient
1.0
Minimal
Processing
6.0
Good
Nutrition
Worst: Variety Cake (Unbranded)
Multiple artificial ingredients
85.5
Ultra
Processing
0.0
Unknown
Nutrition
Shopping by Category Strategy
🎯 Prioritize These Aisles
- • Produce: Frozen vegetables (PS: 2.2)
- • Bulk/Grains: Rice, grains, seeds (PS: 1.7-2.3)
- • Canned Goods: Vegetables, beans (PS: 2.7-3.9)
- • Eggs/Dairy: Fresh eggs (PS: 2.7)
- • Meat: Unprocessed meat/fish (PS: 2.2-2.5)
⚠️ Shop Carefully In These Aisles
- • Bakery: Cakes, pastries (PS: 14.1-18.0)
- • Candy: All candy categories (PS: 12.7+)
- • Frozen Desserts: Ice cream (PS: 11.3)
- • Snack Foods: Cookies, crackers (PS: 12.1)
- • Prepared Foods: Sandwiches, wraps (PS: 12.4-13.6)
💡 Smart Shopping Tips
- • Check individual products: Categories like "Cakes & Pastries" have huge variation (PS 1.0-85.5)
- • Focus on perimeter: Fresh foods typically have lower processing scores
- • Read ingredients: Single-ingredient items usually score PS 1.0
- • Compare within categories: Even processed categories have better options
Key Takeaways
- ✓Huge category variation: Processing scores range from 1.2 (Honey) to 18.0 (Cakes & Pastries) across major categories with 1,000+ products.
- ✓Basic ingredients win: Categories closest to whole foods (grains, vegetables, unprocessed meat) consistently have the lowest processing scores.
- ✓Dessert categories dominate worst list: 8 of the top 10 most processed categories are desserts, baked goods, or confections.
- ✓High variation = opportunity: Categories with high standard deviation offer both excellent and terrible options - individual product research pays off.
- ✓Nutrition doesn't always follow processing: Some highly processed categories (like vegetarian frozen meats) still maintain decent nutrition scores.
Explore Categories Further
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Always consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.