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Is Huel Instant Meals - Cajun Pasta ultra-processed?

1 pouch Dried meals Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Huel Instant Meals - Cajun Pasta

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:

  • 75 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed dried meals

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

Penne Pasta 36% (Durum Wheat Semolina), Cajun Seasoning Blend 16% (Spices (Smoked Paprika, Paprika, Cumin, Black Pepper, Coriander, Chilli Pepper, Mustard, Cayenne Pepper, Turmeric Powder, Fennel, Allspice, Ground Ginger), Modified Maize Starch, Garlic, Onion, Red Pepper, Natural Flavourings, Herbs (Oregano, Thyme), Tomato, Rice Flour, Yeast Extract, Paprika Extract, Lemon Oil, Sea Salt), Pea Protein, Textured Pea Protein 10% (Pea Protein, Pea Flour), Flaxseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Corn Starch, Coconut Sugar, Micronutrient Blend, Sweetcorn 2%, Red Peppers 1.7%, Green Peppers 1.7%, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Corn Starch, Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), Lutein, Lycopene, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin D2, Plant-Derived Vitamin D3, Zeaxanthin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium-L-Methylfolate

Additives: E160c Paprika extract , E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin

As written on the pack

Dried Penne Pasta (36%) (Durum Wheat Semolina), Cajun Seasoning Blend (16%) (Spices (Smoked Paprika, Paprika, Ground Cumin, Black Pepper, Ground Coriander, Chilli Pepper, Mustard Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Turmeric Powder, Ground Fennel, Ground Allspice, Ground Ginger), Modified Maize Starch, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Powder, Natural Flavourings, Herbs (Oregano, Thyme), Tomato Powder, Rice Flour, Yeast Extract, Paprika Extract, Lemon Oil, Sea Salt), Pea Protein, Textured Pea Protein (10%) (Pea Protein, Pea Flour), Flaxseed Oil Powder, Sunflower Oil Powder, Corn Starch, Coconut Sugar, Micronutrient Blend*, Dried Sweetcorn (2%), Dried Red Peppers (1.7%), Dried Green Peppers (1.7%), Salt. *Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Corn Starch, Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), Lutein, Lycopene, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin D2, Plant-Derived Vitamin D3, Zeaxanthin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium-L-Methylfolate.

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.

  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • 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.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

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.
5 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.
  • 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 82 dried meals

From least to most processed, this one ranks 57th. 88% of the dried meals 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 82 dried meals, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060929632077, 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.