Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Aldi Fajita no beef pieces ultra-processed?

Meat analogues from soy or wheat proteins Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Aldi Fajita no beef pieces

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:

  • 37 ingredients
  • 2 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed meat analogues from soy or wheat proteins

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

Water, Soya Protein Isolate, Sunflower Oil, Wheat Protein, Thickeners (Methyl Cellulose), Carrageenan, Wheat Gluten, Tomato, Sugar, Red Chilli Purée, Soya Protein, Potato Starch, Tomato Paste, Wheat Starch, Flavourings, Spices, Potato Protein, Barley Malt Extract, Yeast, Lemon Juice, Cornflour, Garlic Purée, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Salt, Plant Extracts (Hibiscus, Black Carrot Concentrate, Peach, Orange), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Rapeseed Oil, Coriander, Oregano, Lime, Water

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E461 Methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

Water, Soya Protein Isolate, Sunflower Oil, Wheat Protein, Thickeners: Methyl Cellulose, Carrageenan; Wheat Gluten, Tomato, Sugar, Red Chilli Purée, Soya Protein Concentrate, Potato Starch, Tomato Paste, Wheat Starch, Flavourings, Dried Spices, Potato Protein, Barley Malt Extract, Dried Yeast, Lemon Juice, Cornflour, Garlic Purée, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Salt, Plant Extracts (Hibiscus Concentrate, Black Carrot Concentrate, Peach Concentrate, Orange Concentrate), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Rapeseed Oil, Coriander, Oregano, Lime Zest, Smoked Water.

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.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E461 Methyl cellulose 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.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Thickener Thickeners, often gums or modified starches, make liquids more viscous so that a product feels richer than its ingredients alone would make it.

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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
4 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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 27 meat analogues from soy or wheat proteins

From least to most processed, this one ranks 20th. 89% of the meat analogues from soy or wheat proteins 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 27 meat analogues from soy or wheat proteins, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4061459314359, last edited 13 July 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 A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.