Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Heinz Spaghetti Bolognese ultra-processed?

Spaghetti Sold in the United Kingdom and Germany

Pack of Heinz Spaghetti Bolognese

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:

  • 16 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed spaghetti

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

Spaghetti 42% (Water, Durum Wheat Semolina), Tomatoes 41%, Beef 5%, Water, Modified Cornflour, Sugar, Cornflour, Rapeseed Oil, Spirit Vinegar, Natural Flavourings, Black Pepper, Natural Garlic Flavouring, Salt, Plain Caramel

Additives: E150a Plain caramel

As written on the pack

Spaghetti (42%) (Water, Durum Wheat Semolina), Tomatoes (41%), Beef (5%), Water, Modified Cornflour, Sugar, Cornflour, Rapeseed Oil, Spirit Vinegar, Natural Flavourings, Black Pepper, Natural Garlic Flavouring, Salt, % Colour: Plain Caramel.

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.

  • E150a Plain caramel Plain caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars.
  • 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.

  • Modified flour An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
3 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.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 81 spaghetti

From least to most processed, this one ranks 80th. 19% of the spaghetti 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 81 spaghetti, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000157025050, last edited 17 August 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.