sushi
Unknown brand
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
11
0 we grade moderate or higher
6 of them not yet assessed here
Nutrients
–
Nothing above the low band
Or no figures recorded at all
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, 3 colours, 3 sweeteners, 1 preservative and 1 thickener or gelling agent.
E202
Potassium sorbate
Preservative
What it is. The potassium salt of sorbic acid, which stops mould and yeast growth.
Why it is used. Used in cheese, baked goods, dried fruit, wine and dressings.
What the evidence says. Widely used and long regarded as one of the gentler preservatives. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation lowered the acceptable daily intake and noted gaps in the genotoxicity data, asking for more work, while finding no evidence of harm at the levels actually used.
Permitted with maximum levels. EFSA has asked for further data rather than restricted it.
Assessed against EFSA. Full entry for E202
E951
Aspartame
Artificial sweetener
What it is. An intense sweetener around 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in tiny amounts.
Why it is used. Sweetens diet drinks, sugar free gum and low calorie desserts.
What the evidence says. In 2023 IARC listed it as possibly carcinogenic, its weakest evidence tier. At the same time the expert intake committee JECFA kept the safe daily limit unchanged, noting you would need a very high daily intake to approach it, roughly a dozen or more cans of diet drink a day for an adult. So headline scary, practically low concern for normal use.
Permitted with an acceptable daily intake. People with the condition PKU must avoid it, which is why packs carry a phenylalanine note.
Assessed against IARC, JECFA, EFSA. Full entry for E951
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
E100
Curcumin
Yellow colour
What it is. The yellow pigment from turmeric root.
Why it is used. Colours mustards, sauces, dairy, confectionery and savoury snacks.
What the evidence says. A plant pigment people have eaten as a spice for a very long time, and regulators treat it as safe with an acceptable daily intake. EFSA noted that children who eat a lot of the foods it is used in could approach that intake, which is a reason to watch total use rather than a sign of harm.
Permitted with maximum levels in the foods where it is allowed.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E100
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
- E141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls colour
- E160C Paprika extract, capsanthin colour
- E260 Acetic acid acidity regulator
- E262 Sodium acetates acidity regulator
- E460 Cellulose thickener
- E954 Saccharin sweetener
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
71,3% rice preparation (water, rice, sugar, spirit vinegar, salt, rapeseed oil, acidity regulator: sodium acetate, alcohol), 5,0% raw salmon (fish), 3,1% marinated radish (radish, water, sugar, salt, turmeric, alcohol, rice), 2,7% soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), 2,5% marinated carrot (carrot, sugar, water, soy sauce (water, soyabeans, wheat, salt), alcohol, rice, salt], 2,4% marinated ginger with sweeteners (66,7% ginger, water, salt, acidity regulator: acetic acid, citric acid; preservative: potassium sorbate; sweeteners: aspartame, sucralose, sodium saccharin), 2,1% baked and shredded salmon paste [66,2% baked and shredded salmon (fish), chili sauce (water, spirit vinegar, sugar, 5% chili powder, modified starch, sweet paprika powder, salt), starch, thickener; cellulose; salt], 1,9% skipjack tuna paste [70% skipjack tuna chunks in brine (skipjack, tuna (fish), water, salt), mayonnaise (rapeseed oil, water, egg yolk powder, spirit vinegar, mustard meal, sugar, salt, spices), chili sauce (water, spirit vinegar, sugar, 5% ground chili, modified starch, sweet paprika powder, salt), hot paprika powder, chives, salt], 1,9% surimi (imitation crab meat) preparation 165,5% surimi (imitation crab meat) (49% fish meat, water, starch (contain wheat), sugar, egg white, salt, natural shrimp flavour (contain crustaceans), colour: paprika extract), mayonnaise (rapeseed oil, water, egg yolk powder, spirit vinegar, mustard meal, sugar, salt, spices), chili sauce (water, spirit vinegar, sugar, 5% ground chili, modified starch, sweet paprika powder, salt), starch, thickener: cellulose], 1,7% surimi - imitation crab meat [49% fish meat, water, starch (contain wheat), sugar, egg white, salt, natural shrimp flavour (contains crustaceans), colour: paprika extract], 1,2% wasabi flavoured horseradish preparation (water, 29% horseradish powder, ground mustard, corn starch, 0,1% wasabi powder, mustard extract, colours: curcumin, copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins), 1,0% roasted white sesame seeds, 1,0% black sesame seeds, 0,7% smoked, baked salmon paste [76,6% smoked, baked salmon (salmon (fish), salt), water, starch, thickener: cellulose), roasted seaweed nori, 0,5% cucumber, 0,4% dried carrot, 0,2% mayonnaise (rapeseed oil, water, egg yolk powder, spirit vinegar, mustard meal, sugar, salt, spices). Contains a source of phenylalanine.
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.