Is Freshona Butter Beans ultra-processed?

400 g Butter beans Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Butter Beans, Water, Firming Agent (ultra-processing marker) (Calcium Chloride), Antioxidant (Sodium Metabisulphite)

Additives: E223 Sodium metabisulphite , E509 Calcium chloride

As written on the pack

Butter Beans, Water, Firming Agent: Calcium Chloride, Antioxidant: Sodium Metabisulphite

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Firming agent Firming agents keep fruit and vegetable tissue crisp or firm through processing and storage.

From least to most processed, this one ranks 19th. 40% of the butter beans 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.

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4056489903697, last edited 21 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 A (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.