Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Aptamil رقم 3 ultra-processed?

80g Infant formulas Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Aptamil رقم 3

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:

  • 66 ingredients
  • 8 additives

Less processed infant formulas

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

Dairy-based blend (of which 25% is fermented), Lactose (from milk), Skimmed milk, Vegetable oils (Palm oil, Rapeseed oil, High oleic sun, flower oil, Coconut oil, Sun, flower oil), Whey products (Demineralised whey, Whey, from milk), Calcium phosphate, Potas, sium citrate, Fish oil, Sodium citrate, Potassium chloride, Vitamin C, Emulsifier (Soy lecithin), Choline chloride, Inositol, Magnesium chloride, L-Carnitine, Antioxidant (Ascorbyl palmitate), Panto, thenic acid, Vitamin E, Cal, cium carbonate, Nicotina, mide, Riboflavin, vitamins, vitamin B6, Thiamin, Potassium iodide, Folic acid, vitamins, vitamin K1, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Maltodextrin, Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS, from milk), Fructo, oligosaccharides Potassium hydrogen phos, phate, Magnesium hydrogen phosphate, Ferrous sulphate, Zinc sulphate, Milk flavour, ing, vitamins, vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Alleray advice

Additives: E304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid , E304i Ascorbyl palmitate , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E343 Magnesium phosphates , E343ii Dimagnesium phosphate , E502 Carbonates , potassium iodide

As written on the pack

Dairy-based blend (of which 25% is fermented) [Lactose (from milk), Skimmed milk, Vegetable oils (Palm oil, Rapeseed oil, High oleic sun - flower oil, Coconut oil, Sun - flower oil), Whey products (Demineralised whey, Whey concentrate) (from milk), Calcium phosphate, Potas - sium citrate, Fish oil, Sodium citrate, Potassium chloride, Vitamin C, Emulsifier (Soy lecithin), Choline chloride, Inositol, Magnesium chloride, L-Carnitine, Antioxidant (Ascorbyl palmitate), Panto - thenic acid, Vitamin E, Cal - cium carbonate, Nicotina - mide, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Potassium iodide, Folic acid, Vitamin K1, Biotin, Vitamin B12], Maltodextrin, Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) (from milk), Fructo - oligosaccharides Potassium hydrogen phos - phate, Magnesium hydrogen phosphate, Ferrous sulphate, Zinc sulphate, Milk flavour - ing, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3. (FOS), Alleray advice: for allergens

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.

  • E322 Lecithins 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.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
  • 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.

  • Lactose Lactose is milk sugar, crystallised industrially from whey, a by-product of cheese making.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
  • Whey product An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
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.

  • Baby milks Products in the category "Baby milks" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 14 infant formulas

From least to most processed, this one ranks 14th. 86% of the infant formulas 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 14 infant formulas, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5051594006805, last edited 13 June 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.