Smoked salmon styke slices

Squeaky Bean

5010292971839

Processing

4

Ultra-processed

Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale

Additives listed

5

0 we grade moderate or higher

3 of them not yet assessed here

Salt per 100g

1.18g

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.

This label lists 3 thickeners and gelling agents, 1 acidity regulator and 1 preservative.

E220 Sulphur dioxide and sulphites
Preservative
Low strong evidence

What it is. A preservative that stops browning and microbial growth.

Why it is used. Used in dried fruit, wine, some soft drinks and processed potato.

What the evidence says. Not a cancer concern, but a well established trigger for asthma symptoms and sensitivity in some people, which is why it is a declarable allergen. Clear, strong evidence, but the concern applies to a specific group rather than everyone.

Regulatory status UK Permitted with limits or a warning EU Permitted with limits or a warning US Permitted with limits or a warning

Permitted, but must be declared on the label when above a small threshold because of the allergy risk.

Assessed against EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E220

E407 Carrageenan
Thickener and stabiliser
Low limited evidence

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.

Regulatory status UK Permitted EU Permitted US Permitted

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

Also on the label, not assessed here yet

  • E262 Sodium acetates acidity regulator
  • E410 Locust bean gum thickener
  • E425 Konjac 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.

WATER, MODIFIED STARCH (5%), TREHALOSE*, THICKENERS: CARRAGEENAN, KONJAC (CONTAINS: SULPHUR DIOXIDE), LOCUST BEAN GUM; RICE FLOUR (1.5%), RICE PROTEIN (1%), PRESERVATIVE: SODIUM ACETATE; RAPESEED OIL (1%), SALT, PAPRIKA CONCENTRATE, CARROT CONCENTRATE, PAPRIKA JUICE CONCENTRATE, BEETROOT JUICE CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVOURINGS, CITRUS FIBRES, MAIZE STARCH, OIL FROM THE MICROALGAE SCHIZOCHYTRIUM SP., FIRMING AGENT: POTASSIUM CHLORIDE. MAY ALSO CONTAIN TRACES OF EGG, LUPIN, MUSTARD, CELERY, MILK AND SOYA.

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.

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