Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Benecol Spread ultra-processed?

500g Light margarines Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Benecol Spread

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:

  • 14 ingredients
  • 5 additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed margarines

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

rapeseed oil, water, plant stanol ester (plant stanols 6.6%), responsibly sourced palm oil, buttermilk, salt 1%, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, sunflower lecithin, natural flavourings, citric acid, carotenes, vitamin a, vitamin d3

Additives: E160a Carotene , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

rapeseed oil, water, plant stanol ester (plant stanols 6.6%), responsibly sourced palm oil, buttermilk powder, salt (1%), emulsifiers (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, sunflower lecithin), natural flavourings, acidity regulator (citric acid), colour (carotenes), vitamin a, vitamin d3

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.

  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • 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.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 23 light margarines

From least to most processed, this one ranks 15th. 96% of the light margarines 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 23 light margarines, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5055940101145, last edited 25 September 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 C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.