Unwrapped Food

Plant Chef Festive Nut Roast

Tesco

5057753895525

Processing

4

Ultra-processed

Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale

Additives listed

11

0 we grade moderate or higher

7 of them not yet assessed here

Fat per 100g

8.50g

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 (11)

This label lists 3 acidity regulators, 2 antioxidants, 2 colours, 2 thickeners and gelling agents, 1 additive 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

E160A Carotenes
Yellow to orange colour No real concern strong evidence

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.

Regulatory status UK Permitted EU Permitted US Permitted

Permitted. The supplement findings apply to concentrated doses, not to food colouring.

Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E160A

E330 Citric acid
Acidity regulator No real concern strong evidence

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.

Regulatory status UK Permitted EU Permitted US Permitted

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
  • E304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid antioxidant
  • E307 Alpha-tocopherol antioxidant
  • E325 Sodium lactate acidity regulator
  • E412 Guar gum thickener
  • E422 Glycerol other

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

Onion Gravy (13%) [Water, Cornflour, Onion Purée, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Salt, Tomato Paste, Flavouring, Concentrated Carrot Juice, Thyme, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Rapeseed Oil, Parsley Extract, Sunflower Oil, Sage Oil, Sage Extract, Onion Oil], Wild Mushrooms (12%), Mushroom (10%), Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Onion, Green Lentils (6%), Peanut (5%), Cranberry, Quinoa (4%), Hazelnut (4%), Coconut Oil Based Alternative to Cheese [Water, Coconut Oil, Modified Potato Starch, Maize Starch, Oat Fibre, Thickeners (Carrageenan, Guar Gum), Modified Maize Starch, Salt, Acidity Regulators (Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate), Yeast Extract, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Humectant (Glycerol), Colour (Beta-Carotene), Flavourings, Antioxidants (Alpha-Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate)], Wheat Gluten, Rapeseed Oil, Dried Apricot [Apricot, Rice Flour, Preservative (Sulphur Dioxide)], Rye Flour, Garlic, Water, Sugar, Pea Fibre, Mushroom Powder, Lemon Concentrate, Sweetened Dried Cranberries [Cranberry, Sugar, Sunflower Oil], Dried Glucose Syrup, Salt, Yeast, Dried Onion, Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon, Parsley, Flavouring, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid).

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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