gouda sun
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
6
1 we grade moderate or higher
2 of them not yet assessed here
Fat per 100g
38g
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 (6)
This label lists 3 colours, 1 acidity regulator, 1 antioxidant and 1 preservative.
E251
Sodium nitrate
Preservative, cured meats and some cheeses
What it is. A curing agent that slowly converts to nitrite in the product, giving a longer acting preservative effect.
Why it is used. Used in dry cured meats and a few traditional cheeses.
What the evidence says. Sits under the same processed meat evidence as nitrite, since it ends up as nitrite in the food. Same practical takeaway: the issue is regular processed meat intake, not a trace in one meal.
Permitted with maximum levels, tightened in the EU alongside nitrite.
Assessed against IARC, EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E251
E160A
Carotenes
Yellow to orange colour
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.
Permitted. The supplement findings apply to concentrated doses, not to food colouring.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E160A
E300
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Antioxidant
What it is. Vitamin C, added to protect colour and flavour and sometimes to fortify.
Why it is used. Stops browning in juices and cut fruit, protects fats, and boosts vitamin content.
What the evidence says. Beneficial and harmless at the levels used. Included here as a reminder that an E number is just a code, and plenty of them are ordinary nutrients.
Permitted freely, no concern.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E300
E330
Citric acid
Acidity regulator
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.
Permitted freely.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E330
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E160B Annatto, bixin, norbixin colour
- E160C Paprika extract, capsanthin colour
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
Wheat Flour, Unsalted Butter (Milk) (33%), Matured Gouda Cheese (19%) [Gouda Cheese (Milk), Colours (Carotenes, Annatto Norbixin), Preservative (Sodium Nitrate)], Sun-dried Tomato Purée (5%) [Sun-dried Tomatoes, Sunflower Oil, White Wine Vinegar, Salt, Herbs and Spices, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid)], Yeast, Whole Milk Powder, Chilli Powder (1%), Dried Paprika, Free Range Dried Egg, Dried Onions, Sea Salt, Tomato Powder, Parsley, Yeast Extract, Salt, Fermented Wheat Flour, Barley Malt Extract, Mushroom Powder, Garlic Powder, Spices, Colour (Paprika Extract). Allergy Advice!
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.