CHICKEN & CHORIZO CASSEROLE
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
7
1 we grade moderate or higher
6 of them not yet assessed here
Fat per 100g
13g
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 (7)
This label lists 2 preservatives, 2 thickeners and gelling agents, 1 antioxidant and 1 colour. 1 more we cannot place from the code alone.
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
- E160C Paprika extract, capsanthin colour
- E180 No entry in our register
- E200 Sorbic acid preservative
- E301 Sodium ascorbate antioxidant
- E400 Alginic acid thickener
- 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
chicken drumsticks and thighs (80%), red onions, red bell peppers, chorizo slices (3%) [pork, salt, smoked paprika, dextrose, garlic paste, antioxidant (sodium ascorbate), nutmeg, preservative (sodium nitrite), oregano], sugar, spices, cornflour, dried glucose syrup, herbs, tomato powder, garlic powder, green bell peppers, stabiliser (guar gum), paprika extract, flavourings, lemon oil. packaged in a protective atmosphere. no artificial colours, flavours or hydrogenated fat. warning contains bones. important do not wash poultry before cooking. to avoid cross contamination always ensure utensils and surfaces are thoroughly cleaned before and after use. dispose of packaging carefully. wash hands thoroughly after handling raw poultry and packaging. upon opening a faint smell is released from the pack. this is normal and will disappear when the meat is exposed to the air. cooking instructions oven cook 200°c/400°f / fan 180°c/ gas 6/ 45 mins for best results cook from chilled. remove sleeve and film lid. place on a baking tray and cook in the centre of a preheated oven. stir half way through cooking time. not suitable for microwave cooking. to ensure the chicken is fully cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the meat. if the juices run clear, not pink, it is fully cooked. check product is piping hot before serving. do not reheat. for tenderness and succulence cover with foil and allow the chicken to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes after cooking. alring inctruuctions as a quide only. 67g
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.