Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ainsley Harriott Wild mushroom couscous ultra-processed?

100 g Durum wheat semolinas for couscous Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Ainsley Harriott Wild mushroom couscous

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 22 ingredients
  • No additives
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed durum wheat semolinas for couscous

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Mushroom Powder 0.4%, Parsley, Spices, Garlic Powder 0.4%, Black Pepper, Maltodextrin, Mushroom Couscous (wheat), Glucose Syrup, Salt, Dried Wild Mushroom 1.5%, Rapeseed Oil, Natural Flavours, Mushroom Powder 0.4%, Parsley, Spices, Garlic Powder 0.4%, Black Pepper, Maltodextrin, Mushroom 0.3%, BARLEY Malt Extract, May contain SECC MILKA nd CEL ERY Suitable fo

As written on the pack

Mushroom Powder (0.4%), Parsley, Spices (Garlic Powder (0.4%), Ground Black Pepper, Maltodextrin, Mushroom Couscous (WHEAT) (88%), Glucose Syrup, Salt, Dried Wild Mushroom (1.5%), Rapeseed Oil, Natural Flavours, Mushroom Powder (0.4%), Parsley, Spices (Garlic Powder (0.4%), Ground Black Pepper, Maltodextrin, Mushroom Concentrate (0.3%), BARLEY Malt Extract. CONTAINS BARLEY, GLUTEN AND WHEAT. May contain SECC MILKA nd CEL ERY Suitable fo

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Glucose syrup Glucose syrup is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous

From least to most processed, this one ranks 22nd. 36% of the durum wheat semolinas for couscous here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5050665016392, last edited 25 September 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.