Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Huel Instant Meals - Chick'n & Mushroom ultra-processed?

1 pouch Meal replacements Sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany

Pack of Huel Instant Meals - Chick'n & Mushroom

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:

  • 59 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed meal replacements

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 34% (Durum Wheat Semolina), Chicken 18%, Mushroom Flavour Seasoning 18% (Maltodextrin, Natural Flavourings, Wild Mushroom Powder, Mushroom, Chives, Thyme, Black Pepper), Textured Pea Protein 11% (Pea Protein, Pea Flour), Pea Protein, Corn Starch, Soluble Vegetable Fibre (Chicory, Corn), Flaxseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Milk (Coconut Milk, Modified Starch, Tapioca Maltodextrin), Micronutrient Blend, Natural Flavouring, 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: E14XX Modified Starch , E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin

As written on the pack

Dried Penne Pasta (34%) (Durum Wheat Semolina), Chicken and Mushroom Flavour Seasoning (18%) (Maltodextrin, Natural Flavourings, Wild Mushroom Powder, Dried Mushroom, Dried Chives, Dried Thyme, Black Pepper), Textured Pea Protein (11%) (Pea Protein, Pea Flour), Pea Protein, Corn Starch, Soluble Vegetable Fibre (Chicory, Corn), Flaxseed Oil Powder, Sunflower Oil Powder, Coconut Milk Powder (Coconut Milk, Modified Starch, Tapioca Maltodextrin), Micronutrient Blend*, Natural Flavouring. *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.

  • E14xx Modified Starch Modified starches (E1400 to E1452) are starches treated physically, with enzymes or chemically so that they thicken and hold up to heating, freezing or acidity better than ordinary starch.
  • 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.
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.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 56 meal replacements

From least to most processed, this one ranks 28th. 96% of the meal replacements 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 56 meal replacements, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060929632107, last edited 26 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.