Margherita Pizza
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
Fat per 100g
6.40g
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 (9)
This label lists 4 acidity regulators, 2 colours, 2 thickeners and gelling agents and 1 antioxidant.
E407
Carrageenan
Thickener and stabiliser
What it is. A gel forming fibre extracted from red seaweed.
Why it is used. Thickens dairy, plant milks, desserts and some processed meats.
What the evidence says. Food grade carrageenan is permitted. A degraded form called poligeenan is harmful, but that is not what goes into food. Some lab and animal work links carrageenan to gut inflammation, which keeps it under review, but human evidence is limited and mixed.
Permitted, including in organic food in many places, though a few specialist products avoid it as a precaution.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E407
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
E300
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Antioxidant
What it is. Vitamin C, added to protect colour and flavour and sometimes to fortify.
Why it is used. Stops browning in juices and cut fruit, protects fats, and boosts vitamin content.
What the evidence says. Beneficial and harmless at the levels used. Included here as a reminder that an E number is just a code, and plenty of them are ordinary nutrients.
Permitted freely, no concern.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E300
E330
Citric acid
Acidity regulator
What it is. A mild acid found naturally in citrus fruit, made commercially by fermentation.
Why it is used. Adds tartness, balances flavour and helps preserve. One of the most used additives in food.
What the evidence says. Safe at food levels. No credible health concern for the additive itself.
Permitted freely.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E330
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E170 Calcium carbonate colour
- E270 Lactic acid acidity regulator
- E325 Sodium lactate acidity regulator
- E333 Calcium citrates acidity regulator
- E412 Guar gum thickener
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
Pizza Base (Wheat Flour (_Wheat_ Flour, Calcium carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Durum _Wheat_ Semolina, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, _Wheat_ Protein, Salt, Yeast, _Wheat_ Flour, _Wheat_ Starch, Malted _Wheat_ Flour, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic acid)), Tomato Sauce (17%) (Tomato Purée, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Acidity Regulator (Citric acid), Dried Herbs (Basil, Oregano), Garlic), Coconut Oil-Based No-Cheese (14%) (Water, Coconut Oil, Modified Potato Starch, _Oat_ Fibre, Maize Starch, Salt, Modified Maize Starch, Acidity Regulators (Tricalcium citrate, Lactic acid, Sodium lactate), Thickeners (Carrageenan, Guar gum), Flavourings, Colour (Carotenes)), SunBlush® Red Cherry Tomatoes (12%).
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.