Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Favorina Mince Pies ultra-processed?

Cakes Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Favorina Mince Pies

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:

  • 64 ingredients
  • 9 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed cakes

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

Mincemeat Filling 49% (Sugar, Bramley Apple Purée, Raisins 16%, Glucose Syrup, Sultanas 8%, Apricot Filling (Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Apricot Purée, Sugar, Gelling Agent (Pectins), Acid (Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)), Currants 3.5%, Mixed Peel (Orange Peel, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Lemon Peel, Sugar, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Preservative), Vegetable Oils (Palm Vegetable Oils, Rapeseed Vegetable Oils), Mixed Spices (Cinnamon, Coriander, Dill, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves), Acids (Acetic Acid), Citric Acid, Barley Malt, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate), Sodium Metabisulphite, Sulphur Dioxide, Flavouring), Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Vegetable Oils (Palm Vegetable Oils, Rapeseed Vegetable Oils), Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, Raising Agents (Diphosphates), Sodium Carbonates, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)

Additives: E202 Potassium sorbate , E220 Sulphur dioxide , E223 Sodium metabisulphite , E260 Acetic acid , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E440 Pectins , E450 Diphosphates , E500 Sodium carbonates

As written on the pack

49% Mincemeat Filling (Sugar, Bramley Apple Purée, 16% Raisins, Glucose Syrup, 8% Sultanas, Apricot Filling [Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Apricot Purée, Sugar, Gelling Agent: Pectins; Acid: Citric Acid; Acidity Regulator: Sodium Citrates; Preservative: Potassium Sorbate], 3.5% Currants, Candied Mixed Peel [Orange Peel, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Lemon Peel, Sugar, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid; Preservative: Sulphur Dioxide], Vegetable Oils [Palm, Rapeseed], Ground Mixed Spices [Cinnamon, Coriander, Dill, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves], Acids: Acetic Acid, Citric Acid; Roasted Barley Malt Extract, Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulphite, Sulphur Dioxide; Flavouring), Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Vegetable Oils (Palm, Rapeseed), Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, Raising Agents: Diphosphates, Sodium Carbonates; Preservative: Potassium Sorbate.

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.

  • E440 Pectins Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace.
  • 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.
  • Gelling agent Gelling agents such as pectin, gelatine or carrageenan set liquids into gels and stabilise textures.

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.
  • Glucose syrup Glucose syrup is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Fructose Fructose is the sugar found naturally in fruit and honey, but as an ingredient it is refined industrially, mostly from corn starch.
6 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.

  • E202 Potassium sorbate 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.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • 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.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 377 cakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 231st. 94% of the cakes 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 377 cakes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4056489555315, 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.
  • 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.