JohnR41

When I think of processed foods, I seldom think of meat. Although, there are some meats like spam and hot dogs that are obviously processed. But what about steak and farm raised fish?

Shouldn't we consider the processing to begin with the feeding of the animals? If so, that would make grain-fed beef a processed food. Likewise, farm raised fish, chickens, turkeys etc. are all processed.

It seems unusual that meat can look like a whole food (unprocessed) when usually it's highly processed by way of being grain-fed. Grain-fed meat is higher in saturated fat and omega 6. Even fish like tilapia and salmon can be very high in omega 6. I read that if you eat grain-fed fish, you might as well be eating a steak.

I also read that eating lean meat is generally considered healthful by comparison to fatty meat. It's better but not the best you can do to promote health. It's like saying that homemade cookies are ok as long as you only use half the sugar that's called for in the recipe.

Where should we draw the line? When would you consider meat to be a processed food?

Thanks