Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Asda Spicy vegetable couscous ultra-processed?

100 g Prepared couscous Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Asda Spicy vegetable 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:

  • 34 ingredients
  • No additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed prepared 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

Tomato, red pepper 88%, HOW TO PREPA Dried Cous Cous 88% (Durum Wheat Semolina), Dried Vegetables 6% (Onion, Tomato, Red Pepper, Courgette), Flavourings, Palm Oil, Herbs (Parsley, Coriander), Salt, Dried Garlic, Carrot Powder, Onion, Maltodextrin, Chilli, including cereals containing gluten, flavours, hydrogenated fat, NUTRITION We suggest this product provides 2 servings Empty the contents of the sa bowl, Add 150ml of boiling wa to stand for 5 minutes, Separat with a fork, We have given you these cooking guide only, TRY ME LOVE If you are not 100% purchase neither an we'll both replace and Simply return to one ME Or, call us on (0800 95 Visit our website), ASDA When calling and writing please quote th Typical Values Per Per Reference (prepared as 100g 1, 2 pack Intake and the date from the Best Before End directed), Energy kJ 618 773 8400 Energy kcal 146 183 2000 Fat 1.3g 1.6g 70g RECYCLING Packed in the t Asda Stores m Leeds LSID

As written on the pack

Tomato, red pepper and HOW TO PREPA Dried Cous Cous (88%) [Durum Wheat Semolina], Dried Vegetables (6%) [Onion, Tomato, Red Pepper, Courgette], Flavourings (contains Wheat, Barley), Palm Oil, Dried Herbs [Parsley, Coriander], Salt, Dried Garlic, Carrot Powder, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Chilli Powder. Allergy Advice! for allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold. NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS, FLAVOURS OR HYDROGENATED FAT. NUTRITION We suggest this product provides 2 servings Empty the contents of the sa bowl. Add 150ml of boiling wa to stand for 5 minutes. Separat with a fork. We have given you these cooking guide only. TRY ME LOVE If you are not 100% purchase neither an we'll both replace & Simply return to one ME Or, call us on: 0800 95 Visit our website: ASDA When calling or writing please quote th Typical Values Per Per Reference (prepared as 100g 1/2 pack Intake and the date from the Best Before End directed) Energy kJ 618 773 8400 Energy kcal 146 183 2000 Fat 1.3g 1.6g 70g RECYCLING Packed in the t Asda Stores m Leeds LSID

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.
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 16 prepared couscous

From least to most processed, this one ranks 7th. 69% of the prepared 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 16 prepared couscous, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5054781875482, 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 A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.