Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Huel Complete Nutrition Bar - Chocolate Caramel ultra-processed?

1 Bar Protein bars Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Huel Complete Nutrition Bar - Chocolate Caramel

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:

  • 69 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed protein bars

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

Cocoa Coating 24% (Sweetener (Maltitol), Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Natural Flavourings), Wheat Gluten, Corn Fibre, Rice Protein, Humectant (Glycerol), Sweetener (Maltitol), Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein, Micronutrient Blend, Minerals (Potassium (as Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride), Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate), Phosphorus (as Magnesium Phosphate), Magnesium (as Magnesium Oxide), Iron (as Ferric Pyrophosphate), Zinc (as Zinc Oxide), Iodine (as Potassium Iodide)), Vitamins (Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate), Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin K (K2, as Menaquinone-7), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin D (D3, as Plant-Derived Cholecalciferol), Biotin (as D-Biotin), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamine Mononitrate), Folate (as Calcium L-Methylfolate)), Natural Flavourings, Flaxseed, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Cocoa Mass, Sea Salt

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E422 Glycerol , E965 Maltitol

As written on the pack

Cocoa Coating (24%) (Sweetener: Maltitol, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavourings), Wheat Gluten, Corn Fibre, Rice Protein, Humectant: Glycerol, Sweetener: Maltitol, Sunflower Oil, Pea Protein, Micronutrient Blend (Minerals (Potassium (as Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride), Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate), Phosphorus (as Magnesium Phosphate), Magnesium (as Magnesium Oxide), Iron (as Ferric Pyrophosphate), Zinc (as Zinc Oxide), Iodine (as Potassium Iodide)), Vitamins (Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate), Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin K (K2, as Menaquinone-7), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 ( as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin D (D3, as Plant-Derived Cholecalciferol), Biotin (as D-Biotin), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamine Mononitrate), Folate (as Calcium L-Methylfolate))), Natural Flavourings, Ground Flaxseed, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin, Cocoa Mass, Sea Salt.

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.

  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • 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.
  • Humectant Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
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  • 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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
  • Vegetable fiber Isolated plant fibres, such as inulin, oat fibre or bamboo fibre, are extracted industrially and added to change texture or support "source of fibre" claims.
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 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 340th. 93% of the protein 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 426 protein bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060925291063, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.