Is Hovis Farmhouse Batch ultra-processed?

Sliced breads Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Emulsifier
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

34 ingredients
3 additives
Nutri-Score C

Less processed sliced breads

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

Wheat Four (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Starter Dough 26% (Water, Salt (processing marker), Yeast), Yeast, Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil (processing marker) (Palm Vegetable Oil, Rapeseed Vegetable Oil), Salt (processing marker), Soya Flour, Emulsifiers (ultra-processing marker) (e471 (ultra-processing marker)), e472e (ultra-processing marker), Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid), storage instructions (For Best Before date), see bag tie, To keep your loaf at its best, store away from direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place, ideally not in the fridge, Once opened reseal the bag, If freezing, freeze as soon as possible after purchase, Best within 3 months

Additives: E300 Ascorbic acid , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Wheat Four (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Starter Dough (26%) (contains: Wheat Flour (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Salt, Yeast), Yeast, Fermented Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil (Palm, Rapeseed), Salt, Soya Flour, Emulsifiers: E471, E472e; Flour Treatment Agent: Ascorbic Acid. ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold. May also contain milk. STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS: For Best Before date, see bag tie. To keep your loaf at its best, store away from direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place - ideally not in the fridge. Once opened reseal the bag. If freezing, freeze as soon as possible after purchase. Best within 3 months.

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.

E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids 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.
Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.

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.

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 389 sliced breads

From least to most processed, this one ranks 277th. 87% of the sliced breads 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 389 sliced breads, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5010003070127, last edited 1 May 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
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 C (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.