[jyl]

In general, for me processed = taking food(s) and changing them or adding to them by chemical means.

Sausage (Whole Foods) = grinding together meat and fat and natural herbs and spices = not processed

Pop tarts = processed (see below), though I take this to the extreme and anything with corn syrup, I typically don't buy.

That is a good way to think about it.

I avoid HFCS too. It is amazing, food companies are selling stuff that is very harmful to Americans' health, contributing to an epidemic of diabetes, with hundred of millions of dollars' worth of highly effective propaganda aka advertising to drive purchasing. With no regulatory controls at all - as long as it won't kill lab rats in short order, you can sell it.