1. The ingredients list
A long list of ingredients with names you can’t pronounce is a definite red flag. A general rule of thumb is that the more you can recognize the ingredients listed, the less processed the food is. Fewer ingredients generally also signals that a product is closer to its natural state.
Another thing to bear in mind is that ingredients are always listed in order of the most used down to the least used. So, if the first ingredient on the list is sugar, than sugar is the primary ingredient.
And speaking of sugar – even some products that market themselves as sugar-free include hidden sweeteners or sugar-substitutes. Check the ingredients list for words like dextrose, fructose, xylose, high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, malt syrup and fruit juice concentrate to be aware of what kind of sweeteners are hiding inside.