Junk food  

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Junk food is a pejorative term for cheap food containing high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little fiber, protein, vitamins or minerals. Junk food can also refer to high protein food like meat prepared with saturated fat - which some believe may be unhealthy, although some studies have shown no correlation between saturated fat and cardiovascular diseases. Many hamburger outlets, fried chicken outlets and the like supply food considered as junk food.

Despite being labeled as "junk", such foods usually do not pose any immediate health concerns and are generally safe when integrated into a well balanced diet. However, concerns about the negative health effects resulting from the consumption of a "junk food"-heavy diet, especially obesity, have resulted in public health awareness campaigns, and restrictions on advertising and sale in several countries.

See also

• Obesity
• Comfort food
• Glutamic acid (flavor), common flavoring compounds and their synthetic versions, which may be added to some processed foods, to boost their savoriness
• Health food, foods that tend to be nutrient rich, and may be eaten for their potential benefits to health
• List of food additives
• Nutrient profiling