Sodium malates (E350)

No. Sodium malates (E350) is not one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as processed or ultra-processed, so on its own it doesn't raise a product's NOVA group.

What it is

Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.

A product that contains it can still be ultra-processed for other reasons: 19 of the 19 products here that contain sodium malates (E350) (100%) are in group 4 because of other ingredients or additives.

Function

Humectant: Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.

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

More about sodium malates (E350) on Wikidata