Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Asda Beef Stock Cubes (12 X) ultra-processed?

12 x 10 g Dehydrated broths Sold in the United Kingdom and Spain

Pack of Asda Beef Stock Cubes (12 X)

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:

  • 21 ingredients
  • No additives

Less processed dehydrated broths

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

salt, potato starch, palm fat, maltodextrin, sugar, beef fat, beef extract 3%, yeast extract, caramelised sugar syrup, flavourings, carrot powder, onion, celery seeds, garlic, parsley, 3 allergy advice! for allergens, flavours, hydrogenated fat, nutrition we suggest this product provides 48 servings typical values (prepared as directed), energy kj energy kcal fat

As written on the pack

salt, potato starch, palm fat, maltodextrin, sugar, beef fat, beef extract (3%), yeast extract, caramelised sugar syrup, flavourings, carrot powder, roasted onion powder, celery seeds, garlic powder, parsley. 3 allergy advice! for allergens, see ingredients in bold. may also contain traces of nuts, egg, fish, milk, soya, wheat and mustard. no artificial colours, flavours or hydrogenated fat. nutrition we suggest this product provides 48 servings typical values (prepared as directed) energy kj energy kcal fat

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.

  • Hydrogenated fat An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 110 dehydrated broths

From least to most processed, this one ranks 75th. 73% of the dehydrated broths 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 110 dehydrated broths, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5050854977411, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.