Quiz: Food Processing vs. Processed Food – What’s the Difference? -

This blog post was originally posted on September 29, 2021.

When it comes to the foods we consume, there is often confusion surrounding the terms “food processing” and “processed foods”. While food processing is a crucial step in preparing foods for consumption, processed foods often contain added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats that can be detrimental to our health. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the difference between these two terms and provide a simple quiz to test your knowledge. We’ll also highlight the importance of educating consumers on this distinction and providing them with the knowledge they need to make informed choices about the foods they consume.

In February 2022, TechnoServe officially launched its Prosper Cashew project, a five-year, $25 million partnership with USDA that will help Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire to boost their economies through local cashew processing. With a long-term goal of helping West Africa process half of its raw cashews locally before export, the project aims to create more than 4,500 new jobs (at least 50% of them for women), mobilize $61 million in cashew sector investments, and help processors to sell over $200 million worth of cashew products to national, regional and international markets.

Learn more about our work with food processors.

“Food Processing” and “Processed Food” Aren’t Synonymous

Over the years, the term “processed foods” has acquired a less-than-healthy connotation, especially in higher-income countries. You might be surprised to learn that food processing can actually improve nutrition. For certain foods, such as cashews, food fortification is an essential way to improve food security in low-income countries around the world, like the many where we work.

Turning cashew apples from Benin into the perfect snack is just one example of how food processing is so much more than the "junk food" the phrase "processed food" often brings to mind. — Turning cashew apples from Benin into the perfect snack is just one example of how food processing is so much more than the less-than-healthy options the phrase “processed food” often brings to mind.

TechnoServe helps small businesses improve their operations and provide more nutritious food for consumers. Take our quiz to learn the difference between processed food, with its many negative connotations, and the sophisticated food fortification processes hardworking food processors are learning to add nutritional value to the food they process and preserve in our training programs.

Processed food and food processing aren't synonymous. Take our quiz to learn what's fact vs. fiction

Learn the Facts vs. Fictions About Food Processing and Processed Food

Take our quiz to learn how food fortification helps fight hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition: