Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ben's Original Spicy Mexican Style ultra-processed?

220g Rices Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Ben's Original Spicy Mexican Style

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
  • No additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed rices

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

parboiled long grain rice 78%, tomato paste 5.4%, adzuki beans 4%, sweetcorn 4%, red pepper 2.4%, sunflower oil, spices (chilli), onion powder, natural flavouring, salt, coriander, garlic powder, yeast extract

As written on the pack

Steamed parboiled long grain rice (78%), double concentrated tomato paste (5.4%), adzuki beans (4.0%), sweetcorn (4.0%), red pepper (2.4%), sunflower oil, spices (chilli powder), onion powder, natural flavouring, salt, coriander, garlic powder, yeast extract.

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.
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.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" 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 293 rices

From least to most processed, this one ranks 200th. 35% of the rices 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 293 rices, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5010034014152, last edited 1 October 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.