Is it ultra-processed?
Menu

Is HC The Smart Choice Fudge Bars ultra-processed?

1368 g Ice cream bars Sold in the United States and France

Pack of HC The Smart Choice Fudge Bars

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:

  • 21 ingredients
  • 10 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed ice creams

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

Milk, skim milk, water, polydextrose, sorbitol, milk protein concentrate, stabilizer (maltodextrin, whey, locust bean gum, cellulose gum, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, starch, polysorbate 80, carrageenan), glycerine, whey protein, aspartame, vitamin A palmitate, natural and artificial vanilla flavor

Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E407 Carrageenan , E410 Locust bean gum , E412 Guar gum , E420 Sorbitol , E422 Glycerol , E433 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E951 Aspartame

As written on the pack

Milk, condensed skim milk, water, polydextrose, sorbitol, milk protein concentrate, stabilizer (maltodextrin, whey, locust bean gum, cellulose gum, mono - and diglycerides, guar gum, starch, polysorbate 80, carrageenan), glycerine, whey protein concentrate, aspartame, vitamin A palmitate, natural and artificial vanilla flavor.

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.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E410 Locust bean gum Locust bean gum (carob gum) is a thickener and stabiliser from the seeds of the carob tree.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E433 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic emulsifier used in ice cream and some sauces to keep fats evenly dispersed.
Show 3 more

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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • 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.
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.

  • Ice creams Products in the category "Ice creams" are at least group 3.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 34 ice cream bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 29th. 100% of the ice cream bars 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 34 ice cream bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0072655409156, last edited 11 July 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.