Chinese Takeaway for two
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
10
0 we grade moderate or higher
8 of them not yet assessed here
Sugars per 100g
9.64g
Medium
UK FSA front of pack threshold
Three separate readings, kept apart on purpose. This is not a score, and none of it says this product is harmful.
Additives (10)
This label lists 3 acidity regulators, 2 raising agents, 2 thickeners and gelling agents, 1 antioxidant, 1 colour and 1 emulsifier.
E471
Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifier
What it is. Fat derived emulsifiers, closely related to ordinary dietary fats.
Why it is used. One of the most used additives in food: bread, margarine, ice cream, cakes and sauces.
What the evidence says. The body handles these much as it handles other fats, and EFSA's re-evaluation raised no safety concern at the levels used. They sit in the same broad emulsifier and gut microbiome research question as the others, which remains unsettled.
Permitted without a numerical limit. The fat source is not always stated, which matters for some diets rather than for safety.
Assessed against EFSA. Full entry for E471
E415
Xanthan gum
Thickener and stabiliser
What it is. A fibre made by fermenting sugars with a bacterium, which thickens liquids at very low doses.
Why it is used. Thickens sauces and dressings and gives structure to gluten free baking.
What the evidence says. Passes through largely undigested and is treated as safe by regulators, with no numerical intake limit. Very large amounts act as fibre does, which is a digestive effect rather than a safety one.
Permitted freely.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E415
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E160C Paprika extract, capsanthin colour
- E260 Acetic acid acidity regulator
- E270 Lactic acid acidity regulator
- E307 Alpha-tocopherol antioxidant
- E440 Pectin thickener
- E450 Diphosphates raising agent
- E500 Sodium carbonates raising agent
- E501 Potassium carbonates acidity regulator
Names and jobs come from the register of additives permitted in Great Britain, which we have not finished transcribing: a code shown without a name is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that it is unapproved. Naming one is not grading it either. Full detail appears only where we have an assessment against a named authority, so all of this describes our coverage rather than these additives. Most are common and low concern.
Ingredients
Battered Chicken & Sweet Chilli: Battered Chicken Pieces (58%) (Cooked Chicken Breast (60%), Water, Wheatflour*, Maize Flour, Rice Flour, Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, Salt, Wheat Starch, Raising Agent: E450, Sodium Bicarbonate, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Thickener: Xanthan Gum, Dextrose, Ground White Pepper, Yeast, Black Pepper Extract), Sweet Chilli Sauce (42%) (Sugar, Water, Red Wine Vinegar, Red Peppers, Cornflour, Red Chillies, Rapeseed Oil, Ginger Purée, Salt), *Fortified with Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B3, B1 and Folic Acid Beef & Black Bean Sauce: Chicken Stock (Water, Chicken Bones), Cooked Beef (24%), Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Water Chestnuts, Rapeseed Oil, Black Soybeans (3.5%), Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Sugar, Cornflour, Shaoxing Rice Wine (contains Wheat), Garlic Purée, Salt, Ginger Purée, Honey, Red Chillies, Vinegar, Soybeans, Toasted Sesame Oil, Concentrated Mushrooms, Wheatflour*, Caramelised Sugar Syrup, Thickener: Pectin, Dried Mushrooms, *Fortified with Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B3, B1 and Folic Acid Egg fried Rice: Cooked Long Grain Rice (67%) (Water, Long Grain Rice), Peas (10%), Pasteurised Egg (8%), Rapeseed Oil, Leeks (2%), Toasted Sesame Oil, Salt, Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin Sweet & Sour Chicken: Cooked Chicken Breast (23%), Water, Sugar, Red Peppers (7%), Red Wine Vinegar, Onions, Pineapple (5%), Concentrated Pineapple Juice, Cornflour, Rice Wine Vinegar, Shaoxing Rice Wine (contains Wheat), Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Tomato Paste, Vinegar, Salt, Toasted Sesame Oil, Ginger Purée, Dried Garlic, Ground Paprika, Ground White Pepper Vegetable Chow Mein: Cooked Egg Noodles (36%) (Water, Wheatflour*, Pasteurised Egg, Raising Agent: E501, E500, Salt, Ground Paprika, Turmeric), Beansprouts (13%), Carrots (10%), Water, Onions (7%), Soy Sauce (4.5%) (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Red Peppers (4.5%), Soya Bean and Chilli Rayu (Rapeseed Oil, Water, Bell Peppers, Acidity Regulator: Acetic Acid, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Crushed Red Chillies, Garlic Purée, Black Soybeans, Salt, Sugar, Preservative: Lactic Acid, Natural Colour: Paprika Extract, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel Seeds, Wheatflour *), Rapeseed Oil, Cloud Ear Mushrooms, Shaoxing Rice Wine (contains Wheat), Toasted Sesame Oil, Cornflour, Pea Shoots, Smoked Water, Sugar, Concentrated Mushrooms, Vinegar, Brown Sugar, Soybeans, Salt, Caramelised Sugar Syrup, Wheatflour*, Dried Mushrooms, *Fortified with Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B3, B1 and Folic Acid Vegetable Spring Rolls: Wheat*, Beansprouts (13%), Water, Carrots (10%), Edamame Soybeans (10%), Water Chestnuts (10%), Rapeseed Oil, Red Peppers (6%), Cornflour, Cooked Rice Noodles (2%) (Rice Flour, Water), Ginger, Red Chillies, Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Toasted Sesame Oil, Sugar, Dried Palm Fat, Garlic Purée, Ginger Purée, Five Spice (Fennel, Cinnamon, Star Anise, Cloves, Ginger), Dextrose, Toban Jhan (Red Chillies, Salt, Soybeans, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Ginger Purée, Dried Chillies, Wheat), Emulsifier: E471, Concentrated Mushrooms, Soyabeans, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower/Rapeseed), Rice, Ground Star Anise, Antioxidant: E307, Dried Mushrooms, Onion Extract, Yeast, *Fortified with Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B3, B1 and Folic Acid
As printed on the pack, in the producer's own order: ingredients are listed by weight, so what comes first is most of what is in it. E numbers link to their assessment where we have one.