Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Elmlea 100 per cent plant alternative to dairy double cream ultra-processed?

Plant-based creams Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Elmlea 100 per cent plant alternative to dairy double cream

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
  • 8 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed plant-based creams

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

lentil protein preparation, water, lentil protein 31% vegetable oils 1.1% (coconut vegetable oils, rapeseed vegetable oils), sugar, modified com starch, emulsifiers (sunflower lecithin, sugar esters of fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), stabilizers (guar gum, locust bean gum), natural flavours, salt, colourant (beta-carotene), keep refrigerated

Additives: E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E410 Locust bean gum , E412 Guar gum , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E570 Fatty acids

As written on the pack

lentil protein preparation (water, 1,1% lentil protein 31% vegetable oils (coconut, rapeseed), sugar, modified com starch, emulsifiers (sunflower lecithin, sugar esters of fatty acids, mono - and diglycerides of fatty acids), stabilizers (guar gum, locust bean gum), natural flavours, salt, colourant (beta-carotene), keep refrigerated,

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.

  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • 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.
  • E410 Locust bean gum Locust bean gum (carob gum) is a thickener and stabiliser from the seeds of the carob tree.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • 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.
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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 127 plant-based creams

From least to most processed, this one ranks 126th. 70% of the plant-based creams 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 127 plant-based creams, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 8719200208100, last edited 26 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 D (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.