Category Overview Statistics
377
Source Categories
USDA categories, grouped into the 71 compared here
445K+
Total Products
Products with both scores
6.5
Avg Processing
Overall database average
4.4
Avg Nutrition
Overall database average
Processing Level Distribution
20.9%
Minimally Processed
Level 1 (≤2.5)
27.3%
Processed
Level 2 (≤5.0)
24%
Highly Processed
Level 3 (≤8.0)
27.8%
Ultra-Processed
Level 4 (>8.0)
Top 15 Least Processed Categories
Categories with the lowest average Processing Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
Top 15 least processed categories by average processing score
Top 15 Most Processed Categories
Categories with the highest average Processing Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
Top 15 most processed categories by average processing score
Top 10 Highest Nutrition Categories
Categories with the highest average Nutrition Scores (minimum 1,000 products):
Top 10 highest nutrition categories by average nutrition score
Top 10 Lowest Nutrition Categories
Categories with the lowest average Nutrition Scores:
Top 10 lowest nutrition categories by average nutrition score
Categories with Most Score Variation
Categories where individual products vary most widely in processing scores - shop carefully within these categories:
Categories with the most processing score variation
Average Processing Score figures above hold for each category overall, but individual products vary widely across the full range shown.
Category Deep Dive: Real Product Examples
Least Processed Category: Oils & Vinegars (PS: 1.7, NS: 3.5)
Two rice and grain examples, with their scores as the catalog holds them today:
Rice & Grains example products
Frozen Vegetables (PS: 2.5, NS: 6.4)
Great example of minimally processed foods with excellent nutrition scores
High Variation: Cakes & Pastries (PS: 15.2, Std Dev: 7.2)
This category ranges across Processing Scores of 1.0 - 72.6, from simple single-ingredient products to long ingredient lists.
Shopping by Category Strategy
Prioritize These Aisles
- Bulk/Grains. Rice and grains (PS: 1.9)
- Eggs. Fresh eggs
- Canned Goods. Vegetables, beans (PS: 2.7-3.2)
- Produce. Frozen and pre-packaged (PS: 2.5-3.0)
- Meat. Seafood and poultry (PS: 3.4-5.0)
Shop Carefully In These Aisles
- Bakery. Cakes, pastries (PS: 15.2)
- Candy. All candy categories (PS: 10.9)
- Frozen Desserts. Ice cream (PS: 10.4)
- Snack Foods. Cookies, crackers (PS: 9.6)
- Prepared Foods. Sandwiches, wraps (PS: 12.8)
Smart Shopping Tips
- Check individual products: The widest category here, Cakes & Pastries, spans Processing Scores of 1.0 - 72.6
- Focus on perimeter: Fresh foods typically have lower processing scores
- Read ingredients: a single-ingredient item sits at the floor of the Processing Score scale
- Compare within categories: Even processed categories have better options
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Key Takeaways
- Huge category variation: Average Processing Scores range from 1.7 (Oils & Vinegars) to 15.2 (Cakes & Pastries) across 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 the highest-scoring list: 4 of the ten most processed categories are desserts, baked goods, or confections.
- High variation is worth checking: A category with a high standard deviation holds both its least and its most processed options, so looking at the individual product pays off.
- Nutrition does not always follow processing: Protein Shakes & Meal Replacements averages a Processing Score of 8.7 alongside a Nutrition Score of 6.5, one of the ten highest in our analysis.