Is it ultra-processed?
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Lecithins (E322)

Lecithins (E322) is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Function

Antioxidant
Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about lecithins (E322) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Lecithins (E322) appears in 4,510 of the 40,000 products on this site (11%).

Products containing lecithins (E322)

Showing the 60 most popular of 4,510.

How the NOVA classification works