300g Iceland MIX & MATCH ANY 3 £5 UNSMOKED BACK BA
Processing
–
Not recorded
A gap in the source, not a sign it is unprocessed
Additives listed
4
1 we grade moderate or higher
3 of them not yet assessed here
Fat per 100g
17.60g
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 (4)
This label lists 3 preservatives and 1 antioxidant.
E250
Sodium nitrite
Preservative and colour fixer, cured meats
What it is. A curing salt that keeps cured and processed meats pink and stops the growth of the bacteria behind botulism.
Why it is used. Used in bacon, ham, salami and hot dogs for preservation, safety and colour.
What the evidence says. The concern is not the additive in isolation but processed meat as a whole, which the WHO's cancer agency IARC classes as Group 1, meaning there is sufficient evidence it causes colorectal cancer. Nitrite can form nitrosamines during curing and cooking, and those are the likely culprit. Risk rises with how much processed meat you eat over time.
Permitted with strict maximum levels. The EU cut the allowed limits further from 2023 to reduce nitrosamine formation.
Assessed against IARC, EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E250
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E200 Sorbic acid preservative
- E252 Potassium nitrate preservative
- E301 Sodium ascorbate antioxidant
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
Pork (87%), Water, Salt, Preservatives: Sodium Nitrite, Potassium Nitrate; Antioxidant: Sodium Ascorbate. STORAGE on For best results cook from chilled. The following instructions are guidelines only. Wash hands, utensils and all surfaces thoroughly after handling raw meat or poultry and all packaging. Ensure the product is piping hot and thoroughly cooked before serving. Cooking time may vary slightly due to size and thickness of portion. GRILL FROM CHILLED: Pre-heat grill to a medium heat. date Remove required amount from packaging. Place onto the wire rack of a grill pan. Grill for 8-9 minutes. Turn occasionally, reduce heat if necessary. PAN FRY FROM CHILLED: Pre-heat a little oil in a frying pan. Remove required amount from packaging. Fry over a medium heat for 6-7 minutes. Turn occasionally, reduce heat if necessary. AIR FRY FROM CHILLED: Based on half a pack Set temperature to 200°C. Remove required amount from packaging. Place into air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 8 minutes. Turn half way through cooking time. of KEEP REFRIGERATED BELOW SC
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.