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Foods classified as ultra-processed are those that have many added ingredients such as artificial coloring, added sugars, emulsifiers and preservatives. An apple may undergo minimal processing when it gets made into applesauce. But when it gets made into a shelf-stable apple pie or candy gummies with added sugars, colorings and flavorings, these foods are considered ultra-processed. Meredith Rizzo for NPR hide caption

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Meredith Rizzo for NPR

What we know about the health risks of ultra-processed foods

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Genetics, gut microbes and other lifestyle and environmental factors can impact how people's bodies react to food. An NIH study aims to find out how. Stephen Chernin/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

While food prices have risen in many parts of the world, a dramatic jump in one of Italy's staple foods has prompted the government to take action. Matthew Mead/AP hide caption

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Matthew Mead/AP

Workers load grain at a port in Izmail, Ukraine, on April 26. A United Nations-backed deal has been extended allowing shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger. Andrew Kravchenko/AP hide caption

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Andrew Kravchenko/AP

A sign hangs at a Taco Bell on May 23, 2014, in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell asked U.S. regulators Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption

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Gene J. Puskar/AP
Kobus Louw/Getty Images

Back pain shouldn't stop you from cooking at home. Here's how to adapt

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Phil Walter / Getty Images; Frazer Harrison / Getty Images; Mito Habe-Evans / NPR

Padma Lakshmi's Trojan Horse; Plus, is Michael Jackson un-cancellable?

Brittany Luse talks to Padma Lakshmi about the second season of her series Taste The Nation. They get into what is "American food" from apple pies (spoiler: nothing in an apple pie is from here) to daal and pancakes. Then Brittany sits down with the hosts of the new investigative podcast Think Twice. Jay Smooth and Leon Neyfakh dive into the history of Michael Jackson to show how he controlled his narrative and to answer the question: is Michael Jackson too famous to cancel?

Padma Lakshmi's Trojan Horse; Plus, is Michael Jackson un-cancellable?

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Amelia, a 5-year-old student at Oakville Elementary School, socializes during lunch in March at the school in Oakville, Mo. Kids who eat school meals tend to have a healthier diet. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

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Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

A growing and sophisticated variety of alcohol-free beverages are hitting bars, restaurants and grocery stores as mocktails become more popular. America's Test Kitchen hide caption

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America's Test Kitchen

Fake drinks that don't taste fake: The rise of the mocktail

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Students help run the Circle C Market in rural Cody, Neb., as part of classwork. As rural areas struggle to keep traditional grocery stores, some communities are finding innovative ways to keep the stores running. Mike Tobias/Nebraska Public Media hide caption

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Mike Tobias/Nebraska Public Media

Texas oyster farms collect their first harvest

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Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and Gail Simmons in a season 20 episode of Top Chef. David Moir/Bravo hide caption

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David Moir/Bravo

People walk past a Chipotle store in New York City. The fast casual restaurant known for its burritos and bowls is suing Sweetgreen over alleged trademark infringement. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Yang Bing-Yi started the Din Tai Fung restaurant with his wife in Taipei in 1972. From there, the restaurant grew into a chain of more than 170 locations around the world, known for steamed soup dumplings. Courtesy of Yang family hide caption

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Courtesy of Yang family

Yang Bing-Yi, patriarch of Taiwan's soup dumpling empire, has died

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Panera has piloted handprint scanners in two locations so far. The company plans to roll out the technology in additional locations across the country in the coming months. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images