Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Great Value Sugar Free Syrup ultra-processed?

2 TBS Simple syrups Sold in the United States

Pack of Great Value Sugar Free Syrup

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:

  • 17 ingredients
  • 11 additives
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed simple syrups

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

water, sorbitol, contains 2% and less of cellulose gum, salt, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, xanthan gum, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate (preservatives), acesulfame potassium (non nutritive sweetener), potassium chloride, sodium hexametaphosphate, phosphoric acid, sucralose (non nutritive sweetener)

Additives: E150c Ammonia caramel , E200 Sorbic acid , E211 Sodium benzoate , E338 Phosphoric acid , E415 Xanthan gum , E420 Sorbitol , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E150c Ammonia caramel, E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose.

As written on the pack

water, sorbitol*, contains 2% or less of cellulose gum, salt, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, xanthan gum, sorbic acid and sodium benzoate (preservatives), acesulfame potassium (non nutritive sweetener)*, potassium chloride*, sodium hexametaphosphate, phosphoric acid, sucralose (non nutritive sweetener)*.

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.

  • E150c Ammonia caramel Ammonia caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonia compounds.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
  • E452 Polyphosphates Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
Show 2 more
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
2 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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 113 simple syrups

From least to most processed, this one ranks 109th. 42% of the simple syrups 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 113 simple syrups, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0078742061535, 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.