Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Cook Chicken, Ham & Leek Pie ultra-processed?

600g Meat pies Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Cook Chicken, Ham & Leek Pie

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:

  • 52 ingredients
  • 6 additives

Less processed meat pies

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 26%, Wheat Flour 11% (Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1), Water 10%, Butter 8%, Double Cream 10%, Semi Skimmed Milk, Ham 7% (Pork, Water, Salt, Stabilisers (Triphosphates, Diphosphates, Ammonium Phosphatides), Antioxidant (Sodium Ascorbate), Preservatives (Sodium Nitrite, Potassium Nitrate)), Lemon Juice, Onions, Leeks 4%, Free Range Egg Yolk, White Wine 3%, Roast Chicken Stock (Maltodextrin, Salt, Natural Flavouring, Chicken Fat, Sugar, Lemon Juice, Onion), Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, Ham Stock (Pork, Water, Potato, Salt, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Sugar, Smoke Flavouring, Lemon Juice Concentrate), Parsley, Thyme, Salt, White Pepper

Additives: E250 Sodium nitrite , E252 Potassium nitrate , E301 Sodium ascorbate , E442 Ammonium phosphatides , E450 Diphosphates , E451 Triphosphates

As written on the pack

Chicken (26%), Wheat Flour (11%) (Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1), Water (10%), Butter (8%) [Milk], Double Cream (10%) [Milk], Semi Skimmed Milk, Ham (7%) (Pork, Water, Salt, Stabilisers (Triphosphates, Diphosphates, Ammonium Phosphatides), Antioxidant (Sodium Ascorbate), Preservatives (Sodium Nitrite, Potassium Nitrate)), Fresh Lemon Juice, Onions, Leeks (4%), Free Range Pasteurised Egg Yolk, White Wine (3%) [Sulphites], Roast Chicken Stock (Maltodextrin, Salt, Natural Flavouring, Chicken Fat, Sugar, Lemon Juice (from concentrate), Onion Powder), Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, Ham Stock (Pork, Water, Rehydrated Potato, Salt, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Molasses Sugar, Smoke Flavouring, Lemon Juice Concentrate), Parsley, Thyme, Salt, White Pepper.

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.

  • E442 Ammonium phosphatides 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.
  • E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
  • E451 Triphosphates 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.
  • 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.
7 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.

  • E250 Sodium nitrite Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • E252 Potassium nitrate Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 38 meat pies

From least to most processed, this one ranks 33rd. 71% of the meat pies 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 38 meat pies, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5056517316153, 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.
  • 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.