Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Birds Eye Creamy cheese vegetable penne pasta ultra-processed?

350 g Pastas Sold in the United Kingdom and France

Pack of Birds Eye Creamy cheese vegetable penne pasta

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:

  • 27 ingredients
  • No additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed pastas

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

Penne Pasta 40% (Water, Durum WHEAT Semolina), Peas 20%, Broccoli (172), Semi Skimmed MILK, Gorgonzola (22, Water, Gorgonzola, Blue Cheese, Curd, Butter, starch, Salt, Whey Powder, MILK Protein), Sunflower Oil, Onion, Gouda, Rice starch, White Wine, Parmesan Cheese, WHEAT Flour, Salt, Vegetable Stock

As written on the pack

cooked Penne Pasta (40%) (Water, Durum WHEAT Semolina), Peas (20%), Broccoli (172), Semi Skimmed MILK, processed Gorgonzola (22) (Water, Gorgonzola (MILK), Blue Cheese (MILK), Curd (MILK), Butter (MILK), starch, Salt, Whey Powder (MILK), MILK Protein), Sunflower Oil, Onion, Vegetarian Gouda (MILK), Rice starch, White Wine, Parmesan Cheese (MILK), WHEAT Flour, Salt, Vegetable Stock, Spices for allergens see ingredients in CAPITAL LETTERS may also contain SOYA

What makes it ultra-processed

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.

  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • 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.
6 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.
  • Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 999 pastas

From least to most processed, this one ranks 622nd. 51% of the pastas 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 999 pastas, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000116109357, last edited 17 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.