Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Greenvale Olive spread ultra-processed?

500 g Plant-based spreads Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Greenvale Olive spread

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 5 additives
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed plant-based spreads

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

Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed Oil, olive oil 21%, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil), Water, Whey Powder, salt 1.1%, Emulsifier, mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Stabiliser, Sodium Alginate, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Flavouring, Colour (Carotenes), vitamins, vitamin A, Vitamin D, No hydrogenated oils

Additives: E160a Carotene , E202 Potassium sorbate , E270 Lactic acid , E401 Sodium alginate , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed Oil, OLIVE OIL (21%), Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil), Water, Whey Powder (Milk), SALT (1.1%), Emulsifier. Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids; Stabiliser. Sodium Alginate; Preservative: Potassium Sorbate; Acidity Regulator: Lactic Acid; Flavouring, Colour Carotenes; Vitamin A, Vitamin D. Suitable for vegetarians. No hydrogenated oils.

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.
  • E401 Sodium alginate 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.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
  • 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.

  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
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.

  • 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.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 1,375 plant-based spreads

From least to most processed, this one ranks 1355th. 51% of the plant-based spreads 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 1,375 plant-based spreads, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 25007565, 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 E (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.