Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Bisto White Sauce Mix ultra-processed?

Sauces Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Bisto White Sauce Mix

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:

  • 41 ingredients
  • 11 additives
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed sauces

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

Potato Starch, Maltodextrin, Palm Fat, Dried Glucose Syrup M Powder, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Citric Acid Esters of mono- and Diglycerides Powder, Maize Starch, Vegetable Oils (Palm Vegetable Oils, Rapeseed Vegetable Oils), Salt, Suga, Onion Fatty Acids, mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Milk Proteins, Stabiliser Dried Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Ground Black Pepper Dri (Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Polyphosphate), Flavourings, contain Mil Herbs (Bay Leaf, Lovage, Parsley), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Colour (Pap Allergy Advice, including cereals containing guten Extract), Turmeric Extract, Onion Oil, Rosemary Extract, Onion E keep the packaging and phone UK (0800 234 6328 Mon-Fri 9.00am BISTO trade marks), designs and logos appearing on this pack an 1800 93 2814, Premier Foods ROI, PO Box No 13008, Dublin 1, FREEPOST PREMIER FOODS CONSUMER RELATIONS RO 5.00pm

Additives: E100 Curcumin , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E392 Extracts of rosemary , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E570 Fatty acids

As written on the pack

Potato Starch, Maltodextrin, Palm Fat, Dried Glucose Syrup M Powder, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Citric Acid Esters of Mono-and Diglycerides Powder, Maize Starch, Vegetable Oils (Palm, Rapeseed), Salt, Suga, Onion Fatty Acids, Mono - and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Milk Proteins, Stabiliser Dried Yeast Extract (contains Barley), Garlic Powder, Ground Black Pepper Dri (Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Polyphosphate), Flavourings (contain Mil Herbs (Bay Leaf, Lovage, Parsley), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Colour (Pap Allergy Advice: For allergens, including cereals containing guten Extract), Turmeric Extract, Onion Oil, Rosemary Extract, Onion E keep the packaging and phone UK: 0800 234 6328 Mon-Fri 9.00am BISTO trade marks, designs and logos appearing on this pack an 1800 93 2814. Premier Foods ROI, PO Box No 13008, Dublin 1, Ireland FREEPOST PREMIER FOODS CONSUMER RELATIONS RO 5.00pm

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.

  • E100 Curcumin Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
  • 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.
  • E452 Polyphosphates Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
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  • 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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
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.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 2,964 sauces

From least to most processed, this one ranks 2942nd. 60% of the sauces 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 2,964 sauces, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000354919954, last edited 11 July 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 E (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.