Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ekströms Vaniljsås ultra-processed?

5 dl Dairy desserts Sold in Sweden

Pack of Ekströms Vaniljsås

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:

  • 19 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed dairy desserts

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

Skummjölk, socker, fett (kokosolja, palmkärneolja, palmolja, sheaolja), modifierad stärkelse, förtjockningsmedel (gelatin, e412, e407), emulgeringsmedel (e471), vaniljarom, salt, vanilj, färgämne (betakaroten)

Additives: E14XX Modified Starch , E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E407 Carrageenan , E412 Guar gum , E428 Gelatine , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: Vegetable fat.

As written on the pack

Skummjölk, socker, vegetabiliskt fett (kokosolja, palmkärneolja, palmolja, sheaolja), modifierad stärkelse, förtjockningsmedel (gelatin, E412, E407), emulgeringsmedel (E471), vaniljarom, salt, vanilj, färgämne (betakaroten)

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.

  • E14xx Modified Starch Modified starches (E1400 to E1452) are starches treated physically, with enzymes or chemically so that they thicken and hold up to heating, freezing or acidity better than ordinary starch.
  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E428 Gelatine Gelatine is a gelling agent made from collagen in animal skin and bones.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
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  • 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.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Thickener Thickeners, often gums or modified starches, make liquids more viscous so that a product feels richer than its ingredients alone would make it.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.
5 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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 1,414 dairy desserts

From least to most processed, this one ranks 1393rd. 72% of the dairy desserts 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 1,414 dairy desserts, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 7310470061108, last edited 2 April 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.