Is it ultra-processed?
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Is chicken pieces ultra-processed?

Chickens Sold in the United Kingdom

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed chickens

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

chicken breast 86%, water, milk protein, natural flavouring, dextrose, salt, stabilisers (carrageenan, diphosphates), potato starch, yeast extract, sunflower oil, potassium chloride, rosemary extract, rice starch, oregano, nutmeg, although great care has been taken to remove all bones, some may remain, and contact us and & if you have anything to tell us about this product please keep hold of the packaging and contact us at (www.bernardmatthews.com and send us the packaging and your letter to the following address), bernard matthews foods ltd, norwich norfolk nr9 50

Additives: E392 Extracts of rosemary , E407 Carrageenan , E450 Diphosphates , E508 Potassium chloride

As written on the pack

chicken breast (86%), water, milk protein, natural flavouring, dextrose, salt, stabilisers (carrageenan, diphosphates), potato starch, yeast extract, sunflower oil, potassium chloride, rosemary extract, rice starch, oregano, nutmeg. no artificial colours or flavours. for allergens see ingredients in bold. although great care has been taken to remove all bones, some may remain. & contact us & & if you have anything to tell us about this product please keep hold of the packaging and contact us at: www.bernardmatthews.com or send us the packaging and your letter to the following address: bernard matthews foods ltd., norwich norfolk nr9 50

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.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
  • 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.

  • Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • 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 356 chickens

From least to most processed, this one ranks 326th. 74% of the chickens 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 356 chickens, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5010236102084, 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.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.