Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Huel Instant Meals - Mac & Cheeze ultra-processed?

1 pouch Dried meals Sold in the United Kingdom and France

Pack of Huel Instant Meals - Mac & Cheeze

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

Macaroni 53% (Durum Wheat Semolina), Pea Protein, Cheese Style Seasoning 4.9% (Dairy-Free Creamer (Sunflower Oil, Glucose Syrup, Modified Starch), Garlic, Yeast Extract, Salt, Onion, Natural Flavouring, Spices (Mustard, Turmeric, Paprika, Black Pepper), Herb (Oregano)), Corn Starch, Flaxseed Oil, Coconut Milk, Dried Tomatoes 2.9%, Micronutrient Blend, Minerals (Potassium (as Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate), Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate), Magnesium (as Magnesium Phosphate), Iodine (as Potassium Iodide), Zinc (as Zinc Oxide)), Vitamins (Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin K (K2, as Menaquinone-7), Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha-Tocopheryl), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocombalamin), Vitamin D (D2, as Ergocalciferol, D3, as Plant-Derived Cholecalciferol), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamin Mononitrate), Folate (as Calcium-L-Methylfolate)), Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavouring, Flavouring, Smoke Flavouring, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut)

Additives: E14XX Modified Starch , E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin

As written on the pack

Dried Macaroni (53%) (Durum Wheat Semolina), Pea Protein, Cheese Style Seasoning (4.9%) (Dairy-Free Creamer (Sunflower Oil, Glucose Syrup, Modified Starch), Garlic Powder (Sulphites) (1.5%), Yeast Extract, Salt, Onion Powder (Sulphites) (0.5%), Natural Flavouring, Spices (Mustard, Turmeric, Paprika, Black Pepper), Herb (Oregano)), Corn Starch, Flaxseed Oil Powder, Coconut Milk Powder, Dried Tomatoes (2.9%), Micronutrient Blend (Minerals (Potassium (as Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate), Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate), Magnesium (as Magnesium Phosphate), Iodine (as Potassium Iodide), Zinc (as Zinc Oxide)), Vitamins (Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin K (K2, as Menaquinone-7), Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Niacin (as Niacinamide), Vitamin E (as D-Alpha-Tocopheryl), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocombalamin), Vitamin D (D2, as Ergocalciferol, D3, as Plant-Derived Cholecalciferol), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (as Thiamin Mononitrate), Folate (as Calcium-L-Methylfolate)), Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin), Sunflower Oil Powder, Natural Flavouring, Flavouring (Celery), Smoke Flavouring, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut).

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.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Glucose syrup Glucose syrup is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
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 82 dried meals

From least to most processed, this one ranks 61st. 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 5060495117596, 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.