Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Aldi Good Grains Cajun Quinoa ultra-processed?

Quinoa Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Aldi Good Grains Cajun Quinoa

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:

  • 33 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed quinoa

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

white quinoa 37%, White Quinoa, Water, cooked green lentils 27% (Green Lentils, Water), red quinoa 17% (Red Guinoa, Water), red pepper 7%, red onions 6%, cajun style paste 2.5% (Water, Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Caramelised Sugar, Garlic, Chilli, Black Pepper, Thyme, Dried Oregano), Sunflower Oil, Flavouring, Coriander, Onion, Stabiliser, Guar Gum, Salt

Additives: E412 Guar gum

As written on the pack

COOKED WHITE QUINOA (37% (White Quinoa, Water), COOKED GREEN LENTILS (27%) (Green Lentils, Water), COOKED RED QUINOA (17%) (Red Guinoa, Water), RED PEPPER (7%), RED ONIONS (6%), CAJUN STYLE PASTE (2.5%) (Water, Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Caramelised Sugar, Garlic Powder, Chilli Flakes, Black Pepper, Ground Thyme, Dried Oregano), Sunflower Oil, Flavouring, Coriander, Onion Powder, Stabiliser. Guar Gum; Salt.

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.

  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • 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.
3 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.
  • 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 35 quinoa

From least to most processed, this one ranks 35th. 17% of the quinoa 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 35 quinoa, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600143958, last edited 27 March 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.