This page from the BBC explains the diffrences between unprocessed and minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods.

"Ultra-processed foods usually contain ingredients that you wouldn’t add when cooking homemade food. You may not recognise the names of these ingredients as many will be chemicals, colourings, sweeteners and preservatives."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/what_is_ultra-processed_...