Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Great Value Hot chocolate ultra-processed?

Dehydrated beverages Sold in the United States

Pack of Great Value Hot chocolate

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:

  • 20 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed dehydrated beverages

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

sugar, dairy product, ts cocoa, coconut oil, corn syrup solids, whey protein, less than 2% of (salt), iner, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, natural and artificial flavors, sodium caseinate, silicon dioxide, o maltodextrin, monoandglycerides, dipotassium phosphate, skim milk powder, gum arabic, cream, may contain traces 3% of soy 10%

Additives: E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E414 Acacia gum , E551 Silicon dioxide

As written on the pack

sugar, dairy product solids, ts cocoa (processed with alkali), coconut oil, corn syrup solids, whey protein concentrate, less than 2% of: salt, iner (36g) carboxymethylcellulose sodium, natural and artificial flavors, sodium caseinate. anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide), o maltodextrin, mono - andglycerides, dipotassium phosphate, skim milk powder, 50 gum arabic, cream. value* contains milk. may contain traces 3% of soy. 10%

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.

  • E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
  • E551 Silicon dioxide A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • 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.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Ts cocoa An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
4 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.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 60 dehydrated beverages

From least to most processed, this one ranks 46th. 88% of the dehydrated beverages 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 60 dehydrated beverages, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0078742359243, last edited 19 September 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.