Is Huel Black: Vanilla v1.0 ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 64 ingredients
- 4 additives
Less processed meal replacements
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Brown Rice Protein, Tapioca Flour (processing marker), Sunflower Oil (processing marker), Coconut Sugar (processing marker), Natural Vanilla Flavouring (ultra-processing marker), Maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), Micronutrient Blend, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut), Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum (ultra-processing marker)), Sweetener (ultra-processing marker) (Steviol Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Glycosides), Kombucha, Green Tea Extract Powder, Bacillus Coagulans, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Corn Starch (processing marker), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Lutein (ultra-processing marker), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Lycopene (ultra-processing marker), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamin Mononitrate), Zeaxanthin (ultra-processing marker), Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), L-Methylfolate, Potassium lodide, Vitamin D2 (as Ergocalciferol), Plant-Derived Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Chromium, Molybdenum, lodine
Additives: E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin , E415 Xanthan gum
As written on the pack
Pea Protein, Ground Flaxseed, Brown Rice Protein, Tapioca Flour, Sunflower Oil Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Natural Vanilla Flavouring, Maltodextrin, Micronutrient Blend*, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut), Stabiliser: Xanthan Gum, Sweetener: Steviol Vitamin B12 (ug) Biotin (ug) Pantothenic Acid (mg) Potassium (mg) Chloride (mg) Calcium (mg) Glycosides, Kombucha Powder, Green Tea Extract Powder, Bacillus Coagulans. *Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Corn Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Lutein, Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Lycopene, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamin Mononitrate), Zeaxanthin, Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), L-Methylfolate, Potassium lodide, Vitamin D2 (as Ergocalciferol), Plant-Derived Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin). Phosphorus (mg) Magnesium (mg) Iron (mg) Zinc (mg) Copper (mg) Manganese (mg) Selenium (ug) Chromium (ug) Molybdenum (ug) lodine (ug) Allergy advice: For allergens see ingredients in bold. May contain: Mustard.
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.
- E160d Lycopene Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
- E161b Lutein Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
- E161h Zeaxanthin Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
- E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
- Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
- Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.
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.
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.
- Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
- Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
- Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
- Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
Among 56 meal replacements
From least to most processed, this one ranks 29th. 96% of the meal replacements here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060495114540, last edited 17 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.
- General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.