Chinese Banquet
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
4
0 we grade moderate or higher
2 of them not yet assessed here
Salt per 100g
0.59g
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 (4)
This label lists 1 acidity regulator, 1 colour, 1 sweetener and 1 thickener or gelling agent.
E955
Sucralose
Artificial sweetener
What it is. An intense sweetener made from sugar, around 600 times sweeter, so it is used in very small amounts.
Why it is used. Sweetens diet drinks, tabletop sweeteners, dairy and baked goods.
What the evidence says. Regulators have treated it as safe for decades and the acceptable daily intake has not changed. Newer laboratory work on a breakdown product, and the general question of sweeteners and the gut microbiome, keep it under discussion, but that work is early and has not moved any official position.
Permitted with an acceptable daily intake in all three regions.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E955
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
- E120 Cochineal, carminic acid, carmines colour
- E260 Acetic acid 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
Chicken Chunks (26%) (Chicken Breast (99%), Tapioca Starch, Salt), Water, Cooked Long Grain Rice (10%) (Water, Rice), Cooked Noodles (10%) (Water, Durum Wheat Semolina, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Turmeric Powder), White Onion, Broccoli Florets, Scrambled Egg (3%) (Egg, Water, Maize Starch, Salt, Lemon Juice from Concentrate, Ground White Pepper), Char Siu Pork (3%) (Pork (93%), Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Maize Starch, Salt, Maltodextrin, Honey Powder, Dried Garlic, Star Anise, Ground Ginger, Allspice, Barley Malt Extract, Soya Bean, Roasted Wheat, Colour: Carmines), Peas (3%), Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Cooked Onion (Onion, Brown Sugar, Rapeseed Oil), Rapeseed Oil, Light Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Soya Bean, Roasted Wheat, Sugar), Ginger Purée, Modified Maize Starch, Mango Chutney (Sugar, Mango, Salt, Ground Cinger, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Acidity Regulator: Acetic Acid), Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Sugar, Soya Bean, Roasted Wheat, Salt), Garlic Purée, Curry Paste (Yeast Extract (contains Barley), Tomato Paste, Water, Salt, Turmeric Powder, Garlic Extract, Onion Powder, Ground Coriander, Ground Cumin Seed, Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fenugreek, Ground Cayenne, Ground Paprika, Ground Fennel, Ground Star Anise), Mild Curry Powder (Ground Coriander, Ground Fenugreek, Turmeric Powder, Salt, Mustard Powder, Garlic Powder, Maize Starch, Chilli Powder, Ground Fennel Seeds, Celery Powder, Sunflower Oil, Ground Bay Leaf, Ground Cloves), Coconut Milk (Coconut Extract, Water), Sesame Seed Oil, Salt And Pepper Paste (Yeast Extract (contains Barley), Water, Ground Black Pepper, Salt, Onion Powder, Onion Extract, Tomato Paste, Garlic Extract, Flavouring, Red Pepper Powder, Garlic Powder, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Star Anise, Ground Paprika, Ground Cayenne, Ground Fennel, Ground Cloves), Sugar, Wheat Flour, Maize Starch, Reduced Sodium Salt (Salt Replacers: Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride; Salt), Chinese Five Spice (Ground Fennel, Ground Cassia, Ginger Powder, Ground Black Pepper, Clove Powder), Ground Fennel, Barley Malt Extract, Ground Turmeric, Thickener: Xanthan Gum; Sweetener: Sucralose.
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.