mini doughnut aldi
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
9
0 we grade moderate or higher
5 of them not yet assessed here
Sugars per 100g
34g
High
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 (9)
This label lists 2 emulsifiers, 2 raising agents, 1 colour, 1 glazing agent, 1 additive, 1 sweetener and 1 thickener or gelling agent.
E420
Sorbitol
Sweetener and humectant
What it is. A sugar alcohol, about half as sweet as sugar, which also holds moisture.
Why it is used. Used in sugar free sweets and gum, and to keep baked goods soft.
What the evidence says. Not a toxicity question at all. Sugar alcohols are poorly absorbed, so a large amount draws water into the gut and has a laxative effect. That is well established, predictable and dose dependent, which is why the label has to say so.
Permitted. Foods with more than 10 per cent polyols must carry the statement that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.
Assessed against EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E420
E160A
Carotenes
Yellow to orange colour
What it is. The orange pigments found in carrots and other vegetables, either extracted or made synthetically.
Why it is used. Colours margarine, soft drinks, dairy, and sweets.
What the evidence says. The same compound the body turns into vitamin A, and safe at the levels used in food. High dose beta-carotene supplements have been linked to harm in smokers, but those doses are far above anything a colour in food delivers, and conflating the two is a common mistake.
Permitted. The supplement findings apply to concentrated doses, not to food colouring.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E160A
E322
Lecithin
Emulsifier
What it is. A natural emulsifier, usually from soya or sunflower.
Why it is used. Keeps chocolate smooth and stops ingredients separating.
What the evidence says. Safe and widely used. Only relevant if the source, such as soya, is an allergen for you.
Permitted freely. Source allergen must be declared.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E322
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
- E422 Glycerol other
- E450 Diphosphates raising agent
- E472C Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides emulsifier
- E500 Sodium carbonates raising agent
- E901 Beeswax glazing agent
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
sugar, wheat flour, palm oil, pasteurised whole egg, stabilisers: glycerol, sorbitols, invert sugar syrup, water, palm fat, maize starch, rapeseed oil, palm kernel fat, coconut oil, raising agents: diphosphates, sodium carbonates, dextrose, glucose syrup, beetroot concentrate, flavourings, emulsifiers: lecithins (soya), citric acid esters of mono - and diglycerides of fatty acids, colour: carotenes, thickener: xanthan gum, plant extracts (blackcurrant concentrate, lemon concentrate, radish concentrate, safflower concentrate, spirulina concentrate, sweet potato concentrate), glazing agent: beeswax, white and yellow, allergy advice:
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.