The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has launched a new video series aimed at challenging widespread misconceptions about processed food and sparking a more informed national conversation.

The series, titled ‘Cooking with Kels’, is hosted by cookbook author and mum of three Kelsie Heemskerk – known as @cookwithkels_ to her many followers. It was developed in partnership with content creation company ASN Media.

The series unpacks the realities of food processing – what it is, why it matters, and how it contributes to a safe, nutritious, and sustainable food supply.

“There’s a lot of noise out there, and not all of it is accurate,” says AFGC Director of Nutrition and Regulation Dr Duncan Craig.

“This series is about cutting through the myths. Processed food plays a vital role in modern nutrition, supporting food safety, affordability, convenience, access, and overall food security.”

The Cooking with Kels series explores key consumer questions on processed food in four short videos:

• Is all processed food bad for you?
• Is processed food always less nutritious?
• The more ingredients, the less healthy?
• Would we be better off without processed foods?