Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Huel Instant Meals - Madras ultra-processed?

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

Pack of Huel Instant Meals - Madras

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:

  • 66 ingredients
  • 3 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

Pea Protein, Dried Grains 25% (Brown Rice, Quinoa), Flaxseed, Madras Style Curry Flavouring 8% (Natural Flavouring, Spices (Cumin, Chilli, Paprika, Coriander, Cinnamon, Ginger, Black Pepper), Salt), Dried Vegetables 6% (Sweet Potato, Onion, Tomato), Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Tomato, Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil, Medium-Chain Triglycerides Powder (from Coconut), Micronutrient Blend, Coconut Sugar, Coriander, Radish, Carrot Extract, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Phosphate, 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 (Ergocalciferol), Plant-Derived Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), Zeaxanthin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium-L-Methylfolate

Additives: E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin

As written on the pack

Pea Protein, Dried Grains (25%) (Brown Rice, Quinoa), Flaxseed, Madras Style Curry Flavouring (8%) (Natural Flavouring, Ground Spices (Cumin, Chilli, Paprika, Coriander, Cinnamon, Ginger, Black Pepper), Salt), Dried Vegetables (6%) (Sweet Potato, Onion, Tomato), Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Tomato Powder, Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil Powder, Medium-Chain Triglycerides Powder (from Coconut), *Micronutrient Blend, Coconut Sugar, Dried Coriander, Radish Extract, Carrot Extract. *Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Phosphate, 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 (Ergocalciferol), Plant-Derived Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), 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.

  • 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.

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 56 meal replacements

From least to most processed, this one ranks 15th. 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 5060495116803, last edited 12 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.